Local athletes compete in the OHSAA State Cross Country Championships
Several local runners competed at the OHSAA State Cross Country Championships this past weekend.
Division III runners started the day off at 11 a.m. at Fortress Obetz, with Division II commencing at 1 p.m. and Division I at 3 p.m.
FAIRBANKS
Fairbanks saw two Lady Panthers reach the state meet with one eyeing a chance at All-Ohio glory.
Junior Rachael Hoover finished in 70th place with time of 20:38.8, just a few milliseconds ahead of Columbus School for Girls’ Mira Martin (20:38.8).
“I was pretty confident going into it that I had the potential of getting All-Ohio this season,” Hoover said. “I felt like I was rested, but just going into the race, I was feeling really weak.”
With aspirations of earning All-Ohio, the course got the best of the Lady Panther with this year marking her third trip to the state meet. As a junior, Hoover shared the disappointment this season will only add fuel to her fire.
“It’s going to make me train hard for sure,” she said. “Looking into cross country, I am going to try my best to have a good summer of training.
“It’s amazing to be here for a third year in a row.”
Fellow Lady Panther freshman Mara Vicari also participated in the state meet in her first varsity season. She also split time between varsity soccer and cross country.
“I was really excited to get on the course,” Vicari said about her mindset heading into the Division III race. “Rachael is the only other (Fairbanks) freshman to make it to states.”
Vicari took the 122nd spot, finishing in a time of 21:51.9.
“I actually focused more on soccer,” Vicari said, adding the race was not her best performance this season. “I felt good, but couldn’t speed up… I was just happy to be done.”
Fairbanks did not place as a team due to a lack of participants to score as a unit.
Fairbanks junior Rachael Hoover (3337) out runs Columbus School for Girls’ Mira Martin (3333) during the last leg of the girls’ 5k race. The Lady Panther went on to finish ahead of Martin taking 70th place in the Division III race.
JONATHAN ALDER
JA saw its top seven girls runners take on the Fortress Obetz course with one senior improving mightily from last season.
“The wind was a challenge,” coach Justin Creps said. “You expect there to be some challenges, but I’m always proud of this team no matter what the rankings and placings are.”
After placing outside the top 50 last year, senior Eliza Streit claimed the 23rd spot at the state meet.
She also compiled 13 team points for the Lady Pioneers after finishing with a time of 19:28.1.
“Seeing Eliza get 23rd was great,” said Creps. “Last year she got 51st.”
“I have improved a lot since last year, so I am really happy with that,” Streit said. “I was hoping I would be a little faster today, but still really proud of how I competed in the last mile.”
Representing the freshman cast for Alder, Ella Luker took the 111th spot with a time of 21:07.6 tallying another 74 points for JA.
Sophomore Kalyn Greiner was 141st with a time of 21:56.8, notching 102 points for the team.
Additional finishes for JA included freshman Addison Ranly (160th, 22:54.1), freshman Megan Ahner (163rd, 23:10.9), senior Avery Wynk (168th, 24:05.4) and sophomore Lauren Wynk (171st, 24:25.4).
As a unit, the Lady Pioneers tallied 432 points taking 20th place in Division II.
“These girls start training in June and they just pour so much of themselves into the team,” said Creps.
“We knew we would have a young team going into this season,” Streit said. “They knew it too.
“They really stepped into it fearlessly… we wouldn’t be here without them.”
Jonathan Alder senior Eliza Streit (left) comforts fellow Lady Pioneer Megan Ahner (right) after the freshman finished the girls’ 5k race. Streit notched a 23rd place finish with Ahner taking 163rd in the Division II race.
MARYSVILLE
In the Division I meet, Marysville saw representation during the boys and girls races.
On deck first was Monarch freshman Keaton Sanford, who took the 95th spot with a time of 16:54.1.
Marysville freshman Keaton Sanford (1161) sprints the last stretch of the course during the boys’ 5k, eventually taking 95th in the Division I race.
“Today was about learning, competing and having fun,” coach Luke Sundermeier said about Sanford’s performance. “He definitely learned a lot and I think he will have a lot to build from.”
The Lady Monarchs’ turn came later while boasting a young group of state runners for the first time since 1995.
“We focused on celebrating that,” Sundermeier said. “The wind was really brutal.
“It changes how you approach the race and when you make your moves.”
Senior Bryn Hothem was the first Lady Monarch to cross the finish line, taking 53rd place with a time of 19:30. That Marysville a 33-point boost as a team.
“I just wanted to go out and give my last race of my high school cross-country career,” Hothem said. “I wasn’t going for time because the wind wasn’t ideal.”
Moments later, sophomore Bailey Gross took the 56th spot with a time of 19:32.3, tallying another 36 points for Marysville.
Junior Ava Elliot claimed the 99th spot in 20:13.2, which notched 70 points for the Lady Monarchs.
Additional finishers for Marysville included freshman Lyla Channell (126th, 20:41.4), sophomore Kylie Andrews (132nd, 20:55.1), junior Mallory Huffman (145th, 21:09.3) and junior Emerson Bautsch (160th 21:46).
As a team, the Lady Monarchs cemented themselves in 15th place with 333 points.
Marysville senior Bryn Hothem (1243) starts the first leg of the girls’ 5k race at the state meet. The Lady Monarch went on the place 53rd after the Division I race concluded amidst a heavy wind resistance.
“I thought we did great,” Hothem said. “We all laid it out on the line like we were supposed to.”
“It was a positive experience and ending our season at the state championships is a big deal,” Sundermeier noted.
