MANLIUS — Ryan Taylor is coach Dale Donner’s kind of cross country runner. For all of his 14 years as head coach of the Bureau Valley cross country program, Donner has repeated the mantra that cross country is a team sport. As he reflected on his season, which ended with a 49th-place finish at the state meet, one of Taylor’s first thoughts was getting the team down to Detweiller Park next year.

“As a team, I was hoping that we would be down here, and I thought we would,” he said when asked to reflect on his season. “I know that we had some injuries this season. As an individual, my times haven’t been there, but I’m feeling good and think I can come back next year and run better times.”

The Storm qualified for sectionals by placing fourth at the Rock Falls regional with 106 points. Rock Island Alleman (38) was the regional champion.