SPENCER – The Humboldt boys were just clipped for a team title here Thursday in a Class 3A state cross country qualifier, settling for silver.

Sergeant-Bluff Luton had 76 points to 77 by the Wildcats for first. Sioux City Heelan also advanced to the state meet, which takes place next Saturday in Fort Dodge at Lakeside Golf Course.

Joe Kunert paced Humboldt, coming in seventh overall in a time of 16:51. Ryan Courtney placed 11th and Denny Pederson was 12th for the Wildcats.

Algona’s Trey Engen grabbed an individual state bid, finishing 10th in 16:55, while Webster City’s Tyler Bultena did the same, placing 15th in 17:03.

The Lynx were sixth as a team and the Bulldogs finished ninth.

Southeast?Valley duo headed back to state

ATLANTIC – Southeast Valley’s distance duo of Spencer Warehime and Patrick Breitsprecher placed second and fourth here Thursday in a Class 2A state qualifier, advancing to the state meet.

Warehime, who finished 12th last season as a junior, clocked a time of 17:12 for silver. Breitsprecher, an 11th-grader, finished the 5K run in 17:23.

As a team, the Jaguars were eighth.

South Hamilton was the team champion, with Ogden and Roland-Story gaining the other team bids. Andrew Stumbo of Ogden won the race in 16:54.

Eagle Grove state bound again

ANKENY – The Eagle Grove boys are headed back to the state cross country team, claiming a runner-up medal here Thursday in a Class 1A state qualifier.

Top-ranked Nodaway Valley was first overall with 33 points, while the Eagles finished second with 98. West Fork, which had the individual champion in Jake Hansen, was third.

McCaulay King led Eagle Grove, clocking a time of 17:06 to place fifth overall. Gage Behnkendorf was 18th and Dalton Schaffer 19th, as both finished in 17:58.

Spencer Espejo was 26th and Derek Graham 30th.

This is the third time in four years the Eagles have qualified for state and the 25th time in the last 30 years overall. They finished fifth last year, while Schaffer was 18th and King 19th.

SCC’s Moon claims state bid

ORANGE CITY – Sophomore Spencer Moon from South Central Calhoun earned third here Thursday, advancing to the Class 2A state cross country meet.

Moon finished in 16:34 to lead the Titans and claim one of the automatic qualifier positions.

As a team, South Central Calhoun placed eighth overall. Unity Christian, Western Christian and George-Little Rock/Central Lyon claimed the team bids, while G-LR/CL’s Gable Sieperda was the individual winner in 16:25.

Nic Engelin was 41st and Chase Pibal 44th for the Titans.

Pocahontas Area finished in 13th overall, led by freshman Chris Meyer’s 57th place performance.

For East Sac County, Fernando Vaca was 86th overall.

Cowboys place ninth overall

GARNER – The Clarion-Goldfield/Dows cross country team settled for ninth here Thursday in a Class 2A state qualifier.

Garner-Hayfield/Ventura was first, with Clear Lake and South Winneshiek earning second and third.

Max Powers had the high finish for the Cowboys, placing 25th in 18:18. Alex Rosenbaum was 37th individually.

Emmetsburg placed 14th overall, led by Adam Berkland in 66th.