The Knights Cross Country team will have three runners compete at Jefferson City for the annual MSHSAA Cross Country State race on Nov. 8.

“I had a lot of former teammates that I had made promises to that I was going to state,” junior runner Chase Powelson said. “So I couldn’t let them down.”

On Saturday Nov. 1, the varsity boys and girls cross country team went to Warrenton High School to run in Sectionals to compete and decide for what individuals and which teams will move on to Jefferson City to run in the State race. The three runners that qualified for State from the Sectionals race were junior Chase Powelson, senior Ariel Kirkpatrick, and freshman Heidi Hauptman.

“I’m just gonna run my race because the course is already tough and I’ve already made it there,” Kirkpatrick said. ”So I just want to run my race and get a good time.”

The top 30 from each race move onto State from Sectionals and the Howell North runners times varied in their races. Powelson had a time of 17 minutes and 14 seconds, placing him 28 in the boys race. Hauptman placed 16 with a time of 20 minutes flat. Kirkpatrick had a time of 20 minutes 31 seconds with a place of 23. The runners had different motives of doing well and qualifying for state race.

“I mean it would be great if they went to state with us but I was just glad that they got us to sectionals,” Kirkpatrick said.

For Hauptman this will be her first state race and she hopes to do well and have fun at Jefferson City.

“Well, I guess honestly since it’s my first year and I’m a freshman I’m going to try and have fun with it and not to try to get hung up on being nervous,” Hauptman said. “I think I’m going to have more opportunities to do it but just having fun but still trying my best and enjoy the company and people people around me.”

The runners are ready to run this Saturday at Oak Hills Golf Center in Jefferson City.