Rosati and Solgaard were the only two Paly runners to qualify for the meet. However, the lack of depth did not phase either runner, as they both improved upon their previous Toro Park times.

“Warming up having more guys is more fun, but once you get running it is your own race,” Rosati said.

Both runners got off to a slow start but worked their way into the middle of the pack. Their toughest challenge came roughly halfway through the race as they worked through the course’s toughest hill. After the hill, Solgaard advanced past other runners and finished with a strong kick, just as two runners began to gain on him from behind.

“I don’t like getting passed,” Solgaard said. “I felt a guy come up on my shoulder and I didn’t want to let him pass me.”

Solgaard’s kick brought him across the finish line with a time of 17:21; however, his effort left him shy of a state qualification.

Rosati finished with a time of 18:02, improving over a minute from his previous Toro Park time.

Coach Joe Ginanni thought that this served as a strong conclusion to Rosati’s season.

“Corso has been able to shine a little bit in his last two races after a rough stretch with strep throat and a sinus infection,” Ginanni said.

Ginanni thought that both runners matched expectations and worked for better times.

“Realistically, we weren’t expecting to try to qualify [for] the next round, which would be the state meet,” Ginanni said. “Coming into this we wanted to get into the race and compete and work for a better time.”

Although the Vikings did not place as a team, both runners were pleased with their performances and felt that they ended their seasons on a high note.