ACA boys’ cross country team wins district title, qualifies for state along with Oshirak

The Ankeny Christian Academy boys’ cross country team poses for a photo with Belle Oshirak of the ACA girls’ squad following a Class 1A state qualifying meet on Thursday at Jewell. The Eagles won the boys’ title with 28 points and advanced to state along with Oshirak, who took eighth in the girls’ race and qualified as an individual. (Photo courtesy of Dave Walter)

The sixth-ranked Ankeny Christian Academy boys’ cross country team advanced to the Class 1A state meet by winning a district title on Thursday at Jewell.

The Eagles placed five runners in the top 12 and scored 28 points. No. 14 Baxter was the runner-up with 101 points and also qualified for state.

**The Eagles pose with their state qualifier banner. (Photo courtesy of Dave Walter)**

ACA was led by junior Alex Davis, who took second in the 5K race with a time of 17:07. He finished about 15 seconds behind the winner–Matt Richardson of Baxter.

Zachary Gardner placed third for the Eagles in 17:30. Charlie McLaughlin took fifth in 17:36, Cayden Fry was sixth in 17:41, Thomas Hurst placed 12th in 18:06, Luke Reitsma was 21st in 18:28, and Drew Blakeslee finished 38th in 19:31.

**ACA’s Belle Oshirak qualified for the state meet as an individual. (Photo courtesy of Dave Walter)**

In the girls’ race, senior Belle Oshirak of Ankeny Christian Academy qualified for the state meet as an individual. She placed eighth in a time of 21:06.

The Class 1A state meet will be held on Nov. 2 at Fort Dodge. The girls’ race will be held at 10:30 a.m., with the boys’ race to follow at 11:15.