For the Blue Earth Area girls cross country team it’s getting to be a habit, but it’s a good one to have.

On Thursday, the Bucs qualified for their fourth straight trip to the State Meet set for Nov. 1 at St. Olaf College in Northfield.

BEA finished second with 78 points, behind State-bound Fairmont with 70 points and team champion at the Section 2A Meet Thursday at the Montgomery Golf Course.

Head coach Tom Plocker says the team’s “pack running” mentality paid off.

“That’s been our theme all year long and even last year. It’s the ability of our girls to be within a narrow gap of time of each other,” says Plocker. “It wasn’t easy, but the outcome came out quite well.”

Crossing the finish line first in the 4,000-meter race was Courtney Grandgenett with a time of 15:45 to place ninth to nab All-Section honors and also qualify for the individual portion of the State Meet.

Rylee Wagner also earned All-Section with a time of 16:22 for a 13th-place finish.

Chipping in to help the Bucs go to State were Miranda Murray with a 19th-place showing in 16:34, LaNay Walker’s 16:35 for 20th and Marissia Hagedorn 22nd with a 16:36. Mandy Warmka claimed 36th with 17:04 and Lindsey Ankeny was 47th in 17:25.

The boys claimed fourth place with 113 points, behind champion Jackson County Central (80), Fairmont (86) and Le Sueur-Henderson (96).

Plocker says he’s pleased with how the boys’ performance.

“Actually, it may have been more impressive than the girls. Everyone of the boys improved their time from last year,” Plockers says.

Leading the way for the boys and taking home an All-Section medal was Riley Holmseth in 15th place with a time of 18:08.

The next Buc runner to complete the 5,000-meter race was Aaron Wilhelmi in 18th place with 18:13, followed by Eduardo Vega’s 18:21 for 23rd.

Wade Wilhelmi took 26th place in 18:26 and Brandon Christians was 31st overall with 18:37.

Taking 54th was Garrett Passer in 19:19 and Travis Hagedorn was 59th in 19:41.