Prep Cross Country: Whiting, Plunkett move on to Sectionals

Carrier Mills-Stonefort senior Loren Whiting is advancing to next Saturday's Edwardsville Sectional after a fifth place finish over the weekend at the Benton Regional.

Whiting crossed the line at 18:03, while teammate Gabe Motsinger missed by one spot, finishing in a time of 20:43. Billy Lewis turned in a time of 24:03.

"I thought Loren ran great today," Carrier Mills-Stonefort head coach Mike Eisenhauer said. "He was the first individual qualifier for sectionals and he was top five overall. This was one of Loren's beat races of the year.

"I was really pleased with the way Gabe ran, he ran his top time of the year and just missed by one spot from advancing to sectionals. He saved his beat race of the year for his last year. I was very pleased with the effort all three boys gave me this year. They have been fun to coach."

Also competing at Benton was Eldorado, who going a 14th overall finish from Bret Plunkett to advance to sectionals. Plunkett finished in a time of 18:56, while Chris Acheson was 43rd overall with a time of 22:01. Brandon Burnett finished 44th overall.

On the girls' side, Emilie Farmer was 23rd overall and ninth as an individual, while Kim Acheson placed 30th overall and 12th as an individual with a time of 27:33.

Grace Pena placed 36th overall and 15th as an individual with a time of 29:25.