By Rohen Walters

Charleston Middle School runner Maggie Englum qualified for today’s state middle school cross country meet when she ran 12 minutes, 52 seconds across the three-mile course at the Mahomet sectional last Saturday.

It was a personal best. She finished 11th overall.

Englum will now compete in the Class 3A state race at 11 a.m. this morning at Normal West High School.

Englum had taken second in the conference race a few weeks ago.

“I think it’s a pretty big accomplishment making it to state for the second year in a row,” Englum said. “I’m ready for all my training to pay off.”

“We’re in the 3A, with some big schools, and you can tell from the results,”, CMS coach John McInerney said. “Our girls are young. Maggie had a great race, and she was the fifth individual qualifier. She ran one of her fastest times, and it’s a tough Sectional, so that’s a big accomplishment.”

Jonathan Brown just missed a chance at qualifying last week for the boys Class 3A meet, finishing in 11:57 to finish 16th overall n the IESA sectional. Teammate Gunnar Barr ran a PR in 12:05 for 22nd.

Rohen Walters is a student at Charleston Middle School.