The International Falls girls cross country team had two top-10 individual finishes Thursday when the Broncos won the Hibbing Rotary Meet.

The Falls had the top score of 80 points, followed by South Ridge (85), Moose Lake/Willow River/Barnum (91), Crosby-Ironton (97) and Cook County/Two Harbors (142) rounding out the top five out of a dozen teams with at least five finishers to count in the standings.

“We were pushed by a good South Ridge team (Thursday),” said Broncos head coach Paul Hjelle. “It will really be a battle at the Section meet for that second spot as a team. We finished in front (Thursday), but we are going to have to get better.”

Falls freshman Lexi Erickson finished first on the 4,000-meter course in 15 minutes, 37 seconds.

"We will have to improve our split times (between runners), but I'm proud of how our team did (Thursday)," Erickson said. "We all ran our personal bests, and we will keep improving."

Senior Sydney Raboin was the other Bronco girls runner to place in the top 10 by finishing seventh in 16:20.

“We proved to ourselves that we can make it to state again," Raboin said. "The wind was very strong (Thursday), but we pushed through and performed well.”

Falls' three other runners who counted toward the team total included: senior Amy Auran, 16th in 17:09; senior Lexi Owen, 21st in 17:21; and freshman Lexi Edwards, 35th in 18:37.

FHS boys ninth

In the boys competition, the Broncos placed ninth with 212 points among the 13 teams with at least five finishers.

Crosby-Ironton had the top score of 31, followed by Proctor (48), Cook County/Two Harbors (95), Virginia (135) and Moose Lake/Willow River/Barnum (144) in the top five.

The Falls, which didn’t have a top runner — junior Cole Tatsak — competing at Thursday’s meet, had its best finish coming from senior Wyatt Ulrich, who placed 22nd on the 5,000-meter course in 19:53.

“We had a tough race (Thursday) with the wind and Cole not running,” Ulrich said. “It’s fun watching the team battle for the varsity spots. Can’t wait for the Section meet.”

Falls' four other runners who counted toward the team total included: eighth-grader John Cowman, 32nd in 20:29; junior Billy Brokaw, 45th in 21:13; junior Ben Erickson, 51st in 21:37; and junior Gary Harala, 62nd in 22:36.

The Broncos won’t have another meet until Oct. 10 when they’ll host the Hial Pike Invitational at the Falls Country Club.

Hibbing Rotary Meet

GIRLS

Team scores: International Falls 80, South Ridge 85, Moose Lake/Willow River/Barnum 91, Crosby-Ironton 97, Cook County/Two Harbors 142, Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin 154, Proctor 161, Eveleth-Gilbert 166, Duluth Marshall 211, Carlton 238, Virginia 252, Wrenshall 351.

International Falls runners: 1. Lexi Erickson, 15:37; 7. Sydney Raboin, 16:20; 16. Amy Auran, 17:09; 21. Lexi Owen, 17:21; 35. Lexi Edwards, 18:37; 39. Faith Black, 18:46; 42. Jenna Anderson, 18:59.

BOYS

Team scores: Crosby-Ironton 31, Proctor 48, Cook County/Two Harbors 95, Virginia 135, Moose Lake/Willow River/Barnum 144, Eveleth-Gilbert 151, South Ridge 153, Duluth Marshall 188, International Falls 212, Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin 289, Lake of the Woods 299, Wrenshall 318, Mountain Iron-Buhl 353.

International Falls runners: 22. Wyatt Ulrich, 19:53; 32. John Cowman, 20:29; 45. Billy Brokaw, 21:13; 51. Ben Erickson, 21:37; 62. Gary Harala, 22:36.