By Fred Kroner

The Comets’ top four runners were packed within 50 seconds of one another on Saturday (Oct. 24) at the Class 1A IHSA boys’ regional cross-country meet at Decatur’s Hickory Point Golf Course, but the team was unable to continue its season.

The top five teams in the 14-school event – plus the top five individuals not on advancing teams – reserved a spot in the Saturday (Oct. 31) St. Teresa Sectional.

Oakwood/Salt Fork’s team ended 12^th with a composite of 330 points. Meet champion Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond had a score of 44 points, followed by runner-up St. Joseph-Ogden with 50 points.

Three underclassmen were among the Oakwood/Salt Fork leaders.

Setting the pace was freshman Aidan Skinner (59^th in 18 minutes, 50.2 seconds).

Trailing him were freshman Alec Harrison (65^th in 19:09.1), senior Eli Ronk (72^nd in 19:38.3) and sophomore Dalton Hobick (74^th in 19:40.3).

The Comets’ other participants were: freshman Jacob Taflinger (79^th in 20:33.5), junior Coleton Vermillion (90^th in 21:51.4) and junior Ethan Brewer (93^rd in 22:08.2).

The final competition of the season for Oakwood/Salt Fork will be the Tuesday (Oct. 27) rescheduled Vermilion County meet.