The Ballard women's cross country team delivered an impressive performance Thursday evening at the Roland-Story Invitational, held at River Bend Golf Course.  The Class 3A No. 8-ranked Bombers edged out No. 11 Boone to claim the team championship with 52 points.  Boone finished runner-up with 64, while North Polk placed third with 73.

Ballard's strength came from its depth and pack running, a strategy that head coach Scott Barth said was key to the victory.

"The girls went back to the old strategy of getting out well and then progressing through the race with our traditional packs," Barth said. "This worked out for us today as we tracked down a tough Boone girls team and got the team W!"

Freshman Avilee Miller once again led the Bombers, placing 5th overall in 19:44.69. The time not only secured a top-five finish but also etched her name into the Ballard record books, moving her into ninth on the program's all-time list.

"She ran her typical surging race as she builds as the race progresses and tracks a lot of runners down in the last mile," Barth noted.

Ballard's next wave of finishers packed tightly within the top 20. Freshman Honor Jorgensen ran a career-best 20:10 to place 7th, while senior Brooklyn Shoen (11th, 20:26) and junior Raya Miller (12th, 20:27) both set new personal records. Freshman Kaitlyn Dunn rounded out the scoring in 17th (21:11).

Sophomore Nora Showman (20th, 21:27) and junior Grace Grundmeyer (27th, 21:57) closed out the varsity lineup. Across the board, Ballard runners saw season and career-best marks as the Bombers capitalized on favorable conditions and a fast course.

"The girls ran really well, and I know many were very happy with the signs that their hard work is paying off," Barth said. "The course is fast and the weather was nice, which helped athletes run well."

With momentum building, Ballard now turns its attention to a highly competitive field at the Perry Invitational on Thursday, October 2. That meet features five ranked teams from Class 3A, including No. 2, No. 6, No. 8, No. 11, and No. 13, as well as ranked squads from other classes.

"I think that our pack running and depth will serve us well against the elite competition," Barth said. "It will be a good opportunity for us."

Up Next: Thursday, October 2 at the Perry Invitational, 4:00 PM.

Photo Credit: Davidson Photography