Harrisburg cross country coach Corey Whitaker had a few words for Baylie Combs as she approached the final stretch at the Salisbury Municipal Golf Course.

“When your girls are running hard, there’s not a lot you can say,” Whitaker said.

But he had a little advice for Combs as she ran the final 200 yards, uphill to the finish line.

“I just said, ‘run hard, you’re going to be glad you did.’”

Combs finished hard and lowered the Harrisburg school record to 21 minutes 12 seconds, leading the Bulldogs to the lowest team time in program history and a third-place finish at the Robert Kelsay Invitational.

Combs finished seventh individually. KatiJo Schaefer led Glasgow with a 13^thplace finish.

Freshmen Emma Fischer and Madison Hessell finished 20th and 27^th.

“Emma Fischer ran great,” Whitaker said.

“Madison Hessell really stepped up. She had a great race, ran the best race of the year time wise. She said she felt like she had more.”

Hessell finished the course in 23:57. It was the final race for Harrisburg before the state-qualifying meet at Linn High School on October 31.

“To be who we need to be, we really need our four and our five to move up,” Whitaker said. “That’s really been the push, with whoever that’s going to be.”

Despite the record performance, there is room for improvement.

“Liv (Fischer) and Katie (Starbuck) both struggled with some cramping in the race,” Whitaker said.

“Liv was on track to run a PR and then in the last half-mile, just really got hit hard. But I loved her toughness, how she persevered. That’s her the whole year, she’s just tough.

“Jess Gardiner had a PR. She’s come through so many injuries in high school. She’s finally getting that speed back and that’s good to see.”

Mallori Burnett finished 26th with a time of 23:55 for New Franklin. Douglass Creason led the Bulldog boys with a 28^thplace finish of 20:40.

“I was very happy with the way all three of our athletes performed,” New Franklin coach Adam Quest said.

“It was very chilly, but that didn't stop them from turning in some wonderful times. I think they are all in a good place heading into districts."

Hailey Derboven led the Higbee girls with a 40^thplace finish of 25:02 and Kylleen Gibson was 42nd.

Girls varsity results

7. Baylie Combs Harrisburg 21:12

13. KatiJo Schaefer Glasgow 22:41

20. Emma Fischer Harrisburg 23:15

26. Mallori Burnett N Franklin 23:55

27. Madison Hessell Harrisburg 23:57

35. Olivia Fischer Harrisburg 24:34

40. Hailey Derboven Higbee 25:02

42. Kylleen Gibson Higbee 25:18

48. Abigail Rosson Harrisburg 26:04

49. Jessica Gardiner Harrisburg 26:28

51. Jill Davidson Harrisburg 27:00

61. Tehya Sellmeyer Glasgow 28:55

62. Victoria Gibson Higbee 29:03

64. Jamila White Glasgow 29:40

71. Rhianna Goyea Harrisburg 32:04

72. Novalee Cavender Harrisburg 32:04

73. Brittany Johnmeyer Harrisburg 33:27

74. Emma Johnson Higbee 33:27

77. Brenna Hubbard Glasgow 36:37

Boys varsity results

28. Douglass Creason N Franklin 20:40

57. Colton Sellmeyer Glasgow 24:22

66. Logan Pierce N Franklin 26:47