With the McNeil Invitational and district championships, the boys’ cross country team had a busy couple of weeks. On Oct. 15, the 2015 chapter of the cross country team came to a close. Seniors ran their last three mile stretch donned in school colors.

The McNeil invitational went off with a bang with some 29 teams in attendance to show off their speedy runners. Senior James Chard ran a time of 19:35, averaging out to six and a half miles per hour. Senior Shawn Murray managed to run a time of 18:48, averaging to 6.25 minute miles.

“I did an awesome job, couldn’t have expected any better from myself,” Murray said.

McNeil placed 19 of 29 teams.

The entire season led to the District 13-6A meet at Old Settler’s Park. Eight teams from were pitted against each other and the difficult course terrain.

“I think the race was good for what it intended to do, which is test the best runners in the state, but I personally do not like courses with many hills,” Chard said.

Chard received a time of 18:53 at district, a 42 second improvement from his performance at the McNeil Invitational.

“Apart from the course being very trying, it made me feel more accomplished to have finished my last race with the team,” senior Nick Sego said.

Sego got a time of under 20 minutes, a personal goal of his since the beginning of the season; a two-minute improvement from his time of 21:49 at the McNeil Invitationals.

The team placed sixth out of eight at district, failing to advance to regionals.

“At the end of the day, it’s not about coming in first place. It’s about having fun doing what you love and getting a little exercise on the side,” Chard said.