by Mickey Redlingshafer

The cross country team had two girls, junior Courtney Coppinger and freshman Ann Campell, named All-State runners at the State meet last weekend in Jefferson City.Varsity runner sophomore Lindsey Valdiviez, who placed 96 in the meet, is specifically excited about the banner that will hang in the Goppert Center.

[I am excited for the banner] because my name will be up [in the gym] forever,” Valdiviez said. “Having a banner has always sorta been my goal.”

Runners Coppinger and Campbell were named All-State because they placed in the top 25 at the meet. Coppinger, who placed first for STA, explains that she is happy about the the team’s as well as her own finish.

“We couldn’t have finished as high as we did without the strong effort of every runner as well as our supportive fans,” Coppinger said. “I am very happy with how I placed individually. I met my goal of attaining top 25, which earned me an All-State honor“

Alternate runner sophomore Kaite Hornbeck is impressed with the team’s State finish.

“[The team was] really happy with the finish at State,” Hornbeck said. “It’s really awesome that Courtney improved about seven places from last year, and Ann is just a freshman so to get the recognition of All-State is impressive.”