LAWRENCE — In a sea of 108 runners on a rainy day at the infamous Rim Rock Farm course Nov. 2, Ellsworth’s sophomore Molly Ehrlich took sixth place and was named to the First Team All-State cross country team. Those who place first through 10th places are named to the team.

Freshman Lakyn Beckman came in 25th at the meet.

Both girls had to race on a slick muddy course due to rain in the area.

At the 1-mile mark, Ehrlich had 16th place secured and Beckman was in the 33rd position.

“The second mile of Rim Rock is the toughest,” Ehrlich said. “You’ve started hard, you’ve had your first very competitive mile and then the hills of the second mile are there to further test a runner.”

Luckily, the girls had ample access to the Ellsworth Municipal Golf Course — which is filled with hills — where they both practiced with the Ellsworth team.

By the end of the second mile, Ehrlich had moved up to 12th and Beckman to 29th. The third mile of the course had two more grueling hills. Both girls dug deep. Moving up in the third mile is an uncommon thing, but that didn’t stop either runner.

In her final mile, Ehirlich made several passes and was racing shoulder-to-shoulder with a Hesston runner for fifth. She crossed the line a split second back in sixth place.

“I have to go back to 2009 to find EHS’s last top-10 women’s state medalist,” head coach Eric Coonrod said. “Additionally, Molly’s finishing time of 19:47 was a new personal best, and a time that beat her previous school record time.

“For the women’s division, crossing the 20-minute threshold is very significant landmark in a runner’s career. Indeed, she was one of only eight girls to run under the 20-minute mark in the 3A race field of 108 girls.

“To say that she ran this kind of time at one of the toughest meets of the season, and one of the most significant meets of the season, is truly saying something about her drive and her competitiveness.”

Beckman also pulled out a very strong third mile. She was still passing runners going into the final half mile.

“In fact, with the exception of her regional splits, Lakyn eclipsed each of her season-best 1-, 2- and 3-mile times Saturday, stepping up to the challenge like a runner who has been going to the state meet for years,” Coonrod said.

She crossed the line in 25th with a time of 20:40, only 5 seconds off of her personal best from the week before at regionals.

“Lakyn ran a smart race, making some tough, but key, passes where she knew other runners would be weak or would struggle,” Coonrod said. “To finish in the top quarter of the state’s best runners is indicative of the kind of determination and fortitude that she brings to the starting line every race.”