SHEPHERD, MI - Emma Dickins and Elijah Allen earned the right to continue their cross country seasons  by qualifying for the State Meet with two outstanding performances Saturday at the MHSAA D1 regionals at Shepherd High School.

Emma Dickins ran a career-best for the second week in a row. The Junior distance specialist followed her race plan to perfection and posted an awesome time of 18:56, good for eleventh place in the region.  Only four other girls in the history of AHS cross country have broken through the 19:00 minute barrier in cross country.

Elijah Allen’s 16:27 was good for 9th overall. The senior speedster achieved an impressive double by qualifying for the state meet in the 300 meter hurdles in track and in cross country in consecutive seasons.
The duo will be traveling to compete in the Division 1 Finals at Michigan International Speedway next Saturday.

The girls team finished in 10 of the 15 teams in the region . The Boys were 9th. Hunter Hitzelberger narrowly missed qualifying with his season best time 16:58.