The Manhattan High cross country team dominated regionals on Saturday. Both teams brought home first place, and prepare to head for State. The race was held at Milford State Park in Junction City, the second time the teams had raced there this season. Overall the course was mainly liked by the runners.

“Beautiful course, pretty hilly; but it is a good challenge and it was,” junior Jackson Schroeder said. “But we run hills at practice all the time, so it fits our team well.”

The girls side was the top qualifier, with 27, front Lawrence Free State with 48, and Junction City with 89. Two runners placed in the top five, senior Anna Keeley came in second with 19:16, and junior Cara Melgares was not too far behind in third with 19:23.

“Going in we were mainly going for team goals: to win and to just run well all around,” Melgares said. “And that was what we did, we all performed really well. I think our top five was in the top 10 and our top seven was in the top 13.”

This is Keeley’s first and only year as a runner for Manhattan on the team, and so far Keeley has been one of the top runners at every meet.

“But it’s just really great [the season so far] and I love my team,” Keeley said. “It’s been really fun.”

The boys team took the title of first with the score of 35, leading Lawrence Free State with 45 and Washburn Rural with 74. Schroeder took first with 15:42 and sophomore Cooper Schroeder came in fifth with 16:39.

Both teams will be competing at State next weekend, which will be held at Rim Rock, one of the hardest courses they run.

“It will be hard I think. But I just going to try to stay relaxed, with the team,” Keeley said.

The teams are preparing both mentally and physically going into the race.

“Looking forward to being our best and doing our best,” Schroeder said.

Both teams are going in with the mindset of winning.

“We’re going to win,” Melgares said. “That is pretty much my only thought.”