New London’s Annalise Schroeder delivered one of her best times of the season at last Saturday’s WIAA state cross country meet in Wisconsin Rapids.

Schroeder, a first-time state meet qualifier, finished 48th individually in Division 1. She completed the girls’ 4,000-meter course at The Ridges Golf Course in 15 minutes, 45 seconds — just a second off her personal record of 15:44.

She was the lone state qualifier from the Hortonville-New London area.

“She ran a fantastic race,” said New London coach Ron DuVernay. “Making it to state is accomplishing a major goal, but she ran well down there and not everyone does.

“You’re running against the best in the state and she handled that situation well, finishing in the top 30 percent of the runners. If she had been running in Division 2, I believe her time would have put her in the top 16.”

Arrowhead’s Gabby Levac was the Division 1 girls’ champion with a time of 14:36.

Schroeder, a sophomore, is one of several impressive young runners the Bulldogs will return next season. Also back for the New London girls’ squad will be sophomores Bridget Pethke, Macy Egan and Anna Staudenmaier and junior Cassandra Philippon. All ran in the team’s top five this season.

New London also will return a majority of its boys’ team, including Michael Heise, the Bay Conference individual champion, and Scott Bellile, the Bulldogs’ No. 2 runner. Junior Alex Elliot, sophomore Ian Wetzel and freshman Kevin Urban are among the other varsity runners expected back.