The King’s Fork High School cross country team is looking forward to the Class 4 Region A meet next week.

With the regular season for cross country wrapped up, the Bulldogs have their eyes set on the region meet and the forthcoming state meet. Both the boys’ and girls’ teams have had some solid finishes through the Southeastern District meets, and Coach Steve Sheppard believes the team is peaking at the right time.

“We feel like we are really ready,” Sheppard said. “Should be a good day for King’s Fork, as our goal is to have two qualifiers, which would be a first in school history. Jack Van Straten and Madeline Rawlings are seeded in state position, and they just have to take care of business.”

Shamond Smith had been the only previous King’s Fork runner ever to qualify for the state meet. Van Straten has been running well and has ran times as fast as 17:27, which makes him the second person in school history. The boys’ team average overall is in the low 18:00 mark, with six guys running under 18:45, which is the most ever in a season for King’s Fork.

Rawlings has brought her time down to 20:53, which makes her the second girl in school history to break 21. Overall, the girls’ team average is under 22:30, which is the best team average ever.

The Class 4 Region A meet will be Nov. 6 at Windsor Castle Park.