EAGLE GROVE — Running at the state cross country meet is nothing new to South Hamilton senior Ty Skartvedt. He’s been there, done that. Twice.

But prior to yesterday, he’d always qualified as part of a team, never as an individual. And now you know why he was grinning from ear to ear following his performance in sloppy conditions at the Eagle Grove Golf Course.

Hanging just inside the top 15 for much of the 5K race yesterday, Skartvedt made a push into the top 10 over the final mile and sprinted across the finish line in eighth at the Class 2A State Qualifying Meet to punch his ticket for the third time.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him that happy,” South Hamilton boys’ head coach Darrell Paulsen said of Skartvedt. “He was giddy. He ran a good race and I’m very proud of him.”

This was the goal from Day 1 of the season, and Skartvedt has led the Hawks throughout the fall campaign. He put together one of his best efforts when it mattered the most with a time of 18:01.86, 7 seconds ahead of the 15th and final individual state qualifier.

“He was very quiet, very focused, before the race,” Paulsen said. “Before the race I told him that he’s had a good season, and he looked at me and said it’s not over yet. So he was ready to go.”

Skartvedt will be a part of the large 2A state field at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge next Saturday, Oct. 31. The gun will go off at 11 a.m.

The South Hamilton boys’ team finished seventh overall with 182 points. Des Moines Christian (43), Denver (59) and Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck (109) claimed the spots in the state meet.

Eli Potter (19:16.26) placed 33rd, Gage Koster (19:36.01) was 43rd, and Landan Grove (19:40.20) 46th for the Hawks.

“I thought we ran alright and we had a good season,” Paulsen said. “We’ve got some kids coming back next year that have already said they’re going to start lifting weights, and I think that’s what we need to do. We need to get stronger.”

The South Hamilton girls’ team was eighth overall with 179 points, well behind state qualifiers Denver (42), Dike-New Hartford (58) and Des Moines Christian (74).

Marissa Jensen was the Hawks’ leader, as she placed 28th in 23:07.51. Paige Doolittle (23:42.75) and Anna Lammers (23:55.98) also broke 24 minutes, and finished 35th and 39th, respectively. Abby Ervin (24:03.71) wasn’t too far behind Lammers in 41st.

“I thought we ran well and finished well as a team,” South Hamilton girls’ head coach Emily Bochmann said. “I’m proud of the way they competed and supported each other.”