Hall-Dale's Magen Ellis and Waynflete's Adele Espy were quite a sight, lying on adjoining tables in the recovery tent following Saturday State Class C cross country race.

Both runners were covered in mud after traversing the 3.1 mile course at Leavitt High School in pouring rain. Both were clearly exhausted and needed help after corssing the finish line, Espy finishing seven seconds ahead of Ellis to win the race. Few sports place as many demands on an athlete as cross contry does. Take a breather and you've probably lost.
Ellis and Espy, who only know one another through competition, touched hands as they lay on the table, half laughing at the pace they set and half crying with the pain they felt. Cross country tests character and these runenrs displayed ut Saturday.