Sioux Falls, S.D. ? Free State High senior runner Emily Venters finished runner-up at a Nike Cross Regional last weekend, qualifying for the national race in Portland, Ore., on Dec. 3.

Venters took second in a personal-best 16:56, only seven seconds behind Shawnee Mission Northwest’s Molly Born. FSHS senior Kiran Cordes was eighth (17:43), Abby Zenger placed 120th (19:27), Julia Larkin was 122nd (19:28) and Erin Liston took 239th (21:33). Cordes, Zenger and Larkin all ran personal-record times.

In the rising stars girls race, with only freshmen and sophomores, Free State freshman Erin Fagan took 34th in 20:39.

Bishop Seabury freshman Henry Nelson placed 35th in the rising stars boys race in 17:04. Free State freshmen Zach Venters was 111th (18:06) and Caelan Cordes took 178th (18:56).