A perfect day for a XC meet greeted all the regional teams at Portage West MS (Portage Central home course) as they lined up for the chance to qualify for the state meet. On paper there were five teams within 30 points of one another, so a shootout was expected for a chance to be a top three team and an opportunity to race at the state meet. Lowell’s top five got out in the top twenty at the start and continued to work to maintain their scoring position to earn a spot. The initial unofficial score had the Arrows in 2^nd one point behind Portage Central; and then wait for it; the score was recalculated with Lowell in first place with 107 points and the opportunity to hoist the regional trophy.

Lowell was led by All-Region honorees Annika Sandman and Katrina Sandman as they placed 3^rd and 9^th with times of 18:22 and 19:18. Claire O’Boyle had a break out race nailing a PR time of 20:17 for 26^th, Keira Sandman finished 33^rd in 20:32, and Evie Deur closed the scoring taking 36^th in 20:38. Completing the varsity team were Audrey Latchaw 75^th in a PR 22:43 and Anna Forney 80^th in a PR 23:24. As a whole the girls averaged 90 seconds faster on the same course they started the season on in August.

Lowell still hasn’t had a perfect team race. With a perfect team race the girls could nail a top 10 finish at the biggest race of the year.