By Terry Boehmker

NKyTribune sports reporter

Three weeks after his record-setting performance in the Kentucky high school cross country boys state meet, Cooper senior Eric Van Laningham qualified for the NXN national meet sponsored by Nike.

In the Southeast qualifying race on Saturday in Cary, N.C., Van Laningham placed third in a field of 264 boys high school runners from 12 states. He completed the 5,000-meter course in 14 minutes, 52.7 seconds, which was seven seconds behind winning runner Andrew Beroset of Florida.

Covington Catholic senior Joe Mayer placed 14th in the qualifier with a time of 15:19.6. But only the top five finishers advance to the national meet to be held Saturday, Dec.6 in Portland, Oregon.

Last year, Van Laningham placed 33rd in the Nike national meet.

During

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