The conclusion of the high school cross country season was different for Laramie High School for the first time in eight years.

Neither Laramie team brought home a first-place trophy, which hasn't happened since 2010. They did have three individual runners earn All-State honors with a top-10 finish.

LHS head coach Greg Schabron was still pleased with how both teams performed.

“The teams ran tough races but didn’t have enough to take home the titles this year. I have to admit we were much happier with their performances today, they raced much better than Conference. The other teams ran very well and were super strong.”

Both teams finished with 99 team points, but it was the Plainsmen that came in third place and brought home a trophy. Meanwhile, the Lady Plainsmen took fourth but were only eight points out of second place.

Junior Abigail Whitman was the highest finisher in fourth place. She covered the 5K course at the Sheridan V.A. Hospital Grounds in 19:01.00. Fellow junior Emmy Johnson was sixth in 19:11.01. Both earned All-State for a third consecutive year.

Schabron praised how well they ran and their consistency.

“Abigail went out hard and challenged the front pack but didn’t quite have enough to finish in the top three. She ran a solid race all the way through and looked much better than last weekend. Emmy ran awesome as well. She has been fighting through some injuries but is such a strong runner. Those girls are amazing athletes.”

On the boys’ side, junior Mason Swingholm finished in sixth place with a time of 16:41.17. He received All-State for the first time in his high school career.

As for his performance, Schabron said, “He has done an incredible job preparing for this race with a lot of summer miles and tough workouts. We are very proud of him.”

Seniors Derk Lyford and Jordan Tangeman just missed the top-10, as Lyford came in 11th place, while Tangeman took 14.

Schabron added, “All the athletes in the Laramie program have fought through some tough adversity this season and have certainly demonstrated great character. We are proud of every one of these athletes and couldn’t have asked for more from them. I feel comfortable walking away from these races knowing these young men and women have given absolutely everything they had for their teammates and school.”

Natrona County captured the girls’ team crown for the first time since 1984 with 70 team points. Cheyenne Central (91) and Evanston (94) came in second and third place, respectively.

Evanston ran away with the boy’s team title. They scored 39 points in the schools’ first-ever title. Cheyenne Central finished second, just nine points ahead of the Plainsmen.

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