In late August, when many kids were thinking about heading back to school, a group of cross country runners from White River High School conquered the hills on Crystal Mountain during the Ragnar Relay.

The team of eight runners each survived three loops of varying distances and difficulty around the mountain – often in the dark – and placed 34th among the 275 teams finishing the course. Each runner was responsible for 15.8 miles, good for a total of 126.4 miles. They finished Ragnar is 27 hours, 17 minutes and 56 seconds.

Runners were, in back, from left: Claire Lowe, Jessica Taylor, Makayla Melcher and Tori Goodrich. In front are Caleb Cochran (pacer), Grant Swettenam, Joel Slominski, Anthony Grassley and Ronnie Riggs.

The team’s camp was managed by Troy and Dejah Swettenam and Donnie and Jolene Taylor.