PLATTEVILLE – With the postseason portion of their schedule just around the corner, area cross country teams are pushing themselves harder and harder each week in preparation for a fantastic finish.

Such is the case for the Lancaster girls’ cross country team, who is ranked third in the division 3 state poll by the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association.

Competing in the small school division at last Saturday’s Dick McKichan Platteville Invite, the Lancaster ladies finished second to Prairie du Chien with a team score of 52.

Leading Lancaster was junior Lydia Murphy, who blew away the 148-runner field with a first-place time of 19:04, which was nearly 40 seconds faster than runner-up Abby Martin (19:43) of Union Grove.

Lancaster freshman Kristin Muench finished fifth overall with a time of 20:04, which was also the second-fastest time among the small-school participants.

Finishing 23rd overall with a time of 21:03 was junior Crystalyn Mish, wile junior Hannah Cohen placed 36th (21:21) and senior Maddie Hampton 44th (21:41).

On the boys’ side, Lancaster finished fourth of 10 teams with a score of 116, while Darlington took home the team title with a score of 31.

Leading the Lancaster boys with a time of 17:29 to finish 30th overall was sophomore Aaron Murphy, while senior Tyler Graney placed 57th (18:09), senior Hunter Liddell 60th (18:13), freshman Remington Bontreger 116th (19:38) and freshman Zach Mendis 121st (19:46).

Also at Saturday’s Platteville meet were the River Ridge boys’ and girls’ team, where the boys placed ninth with a score of 208, and the girls sixth with a 199.

Leading the River Ridge boys was freshman Brad Hoffman, who placed 65th with a time of 18:15. Rounding out the team’s top five were freshman Brett Kerscher in 84th (18:43), sophomore Bryly Clark in 136th (20:43), senior Isaac White in 139th (20:48) and junior Jon Breuer in 143rd (20:54).

Leading the River Ridge girls’ team was sophomore Tova Lindberg, who placed 73rd with a time of 22:46. She was followed by freshman teammate Glenna Marshall in 86th (23:13), freshman Faith Webb in 92nd (23:22), junior Olivia Meyer in 140th (27:31) and junior Ashton Marshall in 147th (30:00).

Dick McKichan Platteville Invitational

(from Saturday, Sept. 30)

Boys

Small school team scores - 1. Darlington 31; 2. Wisconsin Heights/Bareveld 93; 3. New Glaurs/Monticello 103; 4. Lancaster 116; 5. Albany 156; 6. Iowa-Grant/Highland 159; 7. Belleville 163; 8. Madison Country Day 177; 9. River Ridge 208; 10. Wauzeka-Steuben 223. Incomplete teams: Saint Ambrose Academy, Prairie du Chien.

Top finishers from Lancaster

30. Aaron Murphy 17:29; 57. Tyler Graney 18:09; 60. Hunter Liddell 18:13; 116. Remington Bontreger 19:38; 121. Zach Mendis 19:46.

Top finishers from River Ridge

65. Brad Hoffman 18:15; 84. Brett Kerscher 18:43; 136. Bryly Clark 20:43; 139. Isaac White 20:48; 143. Jon Breuer 20:54.

Top finishers from Cassville

113 (J.V.) Dylan Duvall 21:58.

Girls

Small school team scores - 1. Prairie du Chien 36; 2. Lancaster 52; 3. Darlington 66; 4. Wisconsin Heights/Barneveld 80; 5. Albany 99; 6. River Ridge 199; 7. New Glarus/Monticello; 8. Belleville. Incomplete teams: Madison Country Day, Saint Ambrose Academy, Wauzeka-Steuben, Iowa-Grant/Highland.

Top finishers from Lancaster

1. Lydia Murphy 19:04; 5. Kristin Muench 20:04; 23. Crystalyn Mish 21:03; 36. Hannah Cohen 21:21; 44. Maddie Hampton 21:41.

Top finishers from River Ridge

73. Tova Lindberg 22:46; 86. Glenna Marshall 23:13; 92. Faith Webb 23:22; 140. Olivia Meyer 27:31; 147. Ashton Marshall 30:00.

Top finishers from Cassville

66. (J.V) Ashley Williams 26:13.