The Cumberland High School boys cross-country team traveled to Great Meadows last week and placed ninth at the Virginia High School League state meet. The Dukes were the school’s first team to ever place in the top 12 teams at the state cross-country meet.

“Our kids at Cumberland are simply amazing,” said CHS coach Kenneth Jasey. “The boys have worked hard and stuck together.”

Jared Halvorsen led the Dukes as a podium medalist and finished 13th individually, while Matthew Bapties finished 15th and was a podium medalist as well. Both runners were named Second-Team All-State. “(We are) fortunate to have Halvorsen and Bapties. Both missed last track season with injuries … We didn’t plan on having either of the two possibly this season to be fully healed. Yet, they led our young team to states,” said Jasey.

Hunter Cochran (58th), Justin Stimpson (95th) and Christopher Giles (101st) were also on the Cumberland boys cross-country team.

Auburn took first place with 49 points, Altavista came in second with 57 points and Radford finished in third with 97 points. Other top 12 teams included: Mathews (fourth, 107 points), Parry McCluer (fifth, 163 points), Luray (sixth, 177 points), Galax (seventh, 179 points), Stonewall Jackson (eighth, 211 points), West Point (10th, 227 points), Patrick Henry (11th, 232 points) and Northwood (12th, 313 points).