Flynn qualifies for nationals

2017 Whitehall High School graduate and current Dickinson State University runner Hunter Flynn has once again qualified for the NAIA National Cross Country Championships.

Flynn will be competing this Friday at the event in Vancouver, Washington after qualifying November 8th at the North Star Conference Championships in Forest City, Iowa. Flynn finished sixth overall with a time of 26:54, averaging 5.24 minutes a mile. He earned all-conference honors and an individual spot at nationals.

"It's an amazing feeling to qualify for nationals again. The team qualified my freshmen year (2017), but I didn't make it last year so it's great to get another chance to compete at the national level," Flynn said. "I have mixed emotions as the men's team did not qualify and I wish they could be there with me, but I'm thankful for the opportunity to represent the Blue Hawks and I know I wouldn't be where I am today without my teammates."

Looking towards Friday's race, Flynn has a goal of placing in the top 75 and beating his career-best time of 26:27.

Along with the All-Conference honors, Flynn was named the North Star Runner of the week, and The Dickinson Press Athlete of the Week.

The race is scheduled to take place at 11:30 a.m. (Mountain Time) and live results can be found on the NAIA website at http://www.naia.org.