Greene County senior Allison Higgins had been a good distance runner her first three years of high school, but after placing third at the Class 2A state cross-country meet north of Ft. Dodge last November, she vaulted into the “elite” category. With practice for her senior track and field season underway, Higgins has raised her expectations. She qualified for the Class 3A 3,000 meter run last spring, but didn’t have an especially good state meet race at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. She did not qualify for state in the 1,500 in 2013. “This year I really want to go to state for the two-mile (3,000 meters) and the one-mile (1,500 meters). Last year I was close in the mile and this year it’d be nice to go for both.”

Higgins told Raccoon Valley Radio how the third place state cross-country finish can help her on the track. “It gives me a lot more determination. It kind of helps me know that I am capable of doing that well and that I can keep the momentum going and do well.”

The Rams, under the direction of head coach Kelly Simpson, are slated to have several girls, including Higgins, at the Iowa State University high school indoor meet in Ames on Monday, March 17, for the first competition of the season.