NORTHFIELD – It was the end of an era for three Austin runners at the Minnesota Class AA State Cross Country Meet at St. Olaf College Saturday and it ended with a smile for all three competitors.

Austin junior Meti Omod had Austin’s best finish by a boy runner in over 30 years as he finished 36th place. Senior Henry Hinchcliffe finished 75th and Austin senior Abby Lewis took 87th in her fifth and final state meet appearance.

Omod finished with a time of 16:16.1 and his 34th place finish is the best finish by an Austin boy since 1985 when Chris Harder took fifth. It was likely Omod’s last race as a Packer as his family has moved to Rochester and he is set to enroll in Rochester John Marshall.

Omod just started running cross country last year after playing soccer in the past and now he’s hoping to stick with the sport.

“I thought it would be easier actually, but you get here and it’s different. I saw people passing me,” Omod said. “I thought I was going slow and then I tried to run faster.”

Hinchcliffe took 16:35 in his second state meet and his final cross country race as a Packer. He considered this season to be his most enjoyable one as an athlete.

“This is probably the most fun year I’ve had in any kind of sport ever. It’s only fitting that it’s the last one, it was the best for last,” Hinchcliffe said. “Both running-wise and personality-wise, Meti’s been huge for the team. He’s always been super happy, super positive and he’s been a great guy to be around. I’m going to miss him and I’m going to miss this team. It’s been seven really fun years and I couldn’t have done it without my friends, my teammates, my coaches and my family.”

Lewis finished with a time of 19:33.1 in her final state meet appearance. She will likely continue running cross country at UW-Eau Claire or UW-La Crosse next season, but the Minnesota state meet will always hold a special place in her memory.

“This has always been the goal and it’s the best part of the year when I run with the best people in the state. It’s an honor to be able to make it and represent my school and town,” Lewis said. “It was great running here for the last time. My coach told me beforehand to leave it all out there and the hard work will pay off. I think it really did. I had help from teammates, coaches, family and friends.”

Acer Iverson of Roseville won the Class AA boys race with a time of 15:14.8 and Emily Covert of Minneapolis Washburn won the Minnesota Class AA girls race with a time of 17:03.4.