Hampshire boys cross country runner Tanner Holman thought his 2008 season came to a close at last week's Class 2A Belvidere sectional.

Not so fast.

"I didn't know I made until about an hour after the meet," said Holman. "The girls coach (Patti Nihells) said I missed by two spots. It was one of those things where you think, 'Oh no. I'm never going to make it down,' or that you will never have another chance to make it. Then coach Nihells came over to my house and was yelling out the window that I made it Downstate. Fenton and Richmond-Burton both tied, so both teams got the last spot and made it. So me and a boy from Rochelle moved up. I was ecstatic. I couldn't sit down. It was probably the best feeling of my life."

Holman, a senior, is one of 6 area individuals and 3 area teams that will run in Saturday's state cross country finals at Peoria's Detweiller Park. Holman is Hampshire's first boys cross country state qualifier.