NORWICH – Steven Spittler aims to become Norwich’s first state qualifier in cross country in over a decade, and the determined high school junior has an excellent shot at reaching his goal based on his recent performances.

The leading runner on the NHS team, Spittler, 16, entered the Marine Corps Half Marathon in Albany on Oct. 7, and he came home with the top finish in his age group and placed third overall timing 1:17.40 (a 5:56/mile rate) over the 13-mile course.

To repeat, he was third out of 520 runners.