Being the only runner from your team to qualify for the state meet can make for some lonely practices, but senior Maura Bulgrin made the best of it with her 11th-place finish Saturday. Her time of 19:06 was her personal best at Scioto Downs, where the state championship is held each year.

"I was surprised by the strength of the competition," Bulgrin said, "but I was pleased with my finish and the improvement in my time."

Bulgrin stuck with a pack of runners and fluctuated between third and seventh for the first two miles of the race. She finished her first mile in just under 5:45 and pushed through the cold wind for the second. As the race wound down, Bulgrin found herself in 10th but was unable to hold off a late charge by junior Jordan Stafford of Springfield Greenon High School.

After a successful four years at Hoban, Bulgrin's strong finish at the state competition was fitting conclusion to her high school career. With finishes of fifth, 16th, seventh and 11th in those four years, she averaged a finish in the top 10.