OREGON – Amboy’s cross country runners were hoping for one more week to their season, which would mean a trip to the state meet, and the Clipper boys were able to do just that after competing in the Oregon Class 1A Sectional on Oct. 30.

The Clippers finished in third place with 100 points, earning the entire team a berth in the state meet. 

The top six teams qualify for state. Rockford Christian came out on top with 49 points and Riverdale was second with 66 points. The other team qualifiers were Sandwich (130), Sterling Newman (158) and Erie-Prophetstown (248).

Amboy’s Brock Loftus has battled with Tommy Murray of Riverdale in many races over their careers, and Loftus was able to outrace Murray to the finish line in a first-place effort with a time of 16:19.30. Murray checked in second with a clocking of 16:22.15.

Two other Clippers placed in the top nine. Kyle McNinch was seventh in 17:13.90 and Ian Eller took ninth place with a time of 17:18.3.

Four other runners helped Amboy to the third-place team finish. They were Charlie Dickinson (33^rd, 18:11.18), Wyatt Lundquist (61^st, 18:51.12), Garrett Pertell (82^nd, 19:21.09) and Andruw Jones (84^th, 19:25.05).

Girls Cross Country results

In the girls’ competition, the Lady Clippers had two runners in the field. Elly Jones finished 55^th in 22:53.76 and Addison Pertell was 110^th in 25:46.62.

The girls’ race was won by Grace Erb of Winnebago in a time of 19:28, leading her Winnebago squad to the sectional championship with a score of 26 points.

The other advancing girls’ teams after Winnebago were Seneca (123), Mercer County (136), Rock Falls (142), Rockford Christian (182) and Sherrard (194).