Iola junior cross country runner Keegan Hill continues inching up the state leader boards after taking 24th place at Saturday’s KSHAA Cross Country Championship.
Hill missed the medal podium by 10 seconds after clearing the famed course at Rim Rock Farm in 17 minutes, 12 seconds, four places from qualifying for a state medal.
Hill competed for his third state title Saturday after qualifying for the 2024 state meet. That next spring, he qualified for the state track meet in the 3200.
As a sophomore, Hill cleared the course in 17:47. When he ran it last month, as part of the Rim Rock Farm High School Classic, he placed 78th against 503 runners after clearing the course in 18:23.
While competing Saturday, Hill shaved off more than a minute and 10 seconds from his previous time. Hill will likely return to the Iola track team as a distance runner this spring.
