| Upperclassmen pass on traditions to freshmen
This year's women's cross country team has just that, with five seniors leading a talented group of underclassmen. For Head Coach Bill Ware's squad, this mix is essential to produce a winning team. The Bombers, already ranked in the top 30 teams nationwide, have won all three of the invitationals they have entered so far this year. The reason for this start is not only smart, fast running, but also a combination of great leaders helping young runners be the best they can be, Ware said. “It's not just one thing. It's a mix of many things," Ware said. “It definitely helps when you have the senior leadership like we do this year." Led by captains Amanda Boccio and Bridget Hastings, the rest of the senior class — Elizabeth DeLong, Melanie McCormick and Anna Sumerlin — has aided a roster made up of mostly underclassmen and guided them to an unbelievable start.
Broken Bow cross country teams dominate Ravenna Invitational
She said running with Linder helps both runners. "It helps me go faster and it helps her stay close to me," Miller said. Miller's winning margin was less than 4 seconds, but Randall, who finished third, was 16 seconds behind Linder. The rest of the team was within sight. Broken Bow coach Kirk Petit said the gap between his top runner and his fourth runner has been about a minute through the first two meets. Thursday, 35 seconds separated Miller from fourth runner Taylor Pearson, who was eighth overall. "I told the girls that's how you win big meets," Petit said. Miller, a senior, finished second at Ravenna as a freshman and was in the top five the next year. She missed almost all of last season with a torn calf muscle.
Local trio storm through to win 30 mile relay race
Mercer Shuttle 10k A number of Stourbridge runners took part in this 10k event, many of whom had run in the JW Ultra the day before. It was a good course with one steep hill near the start but after that good running. Joan Clarke was the only Stourbridge lady to take part and finished in 46mins 39secs, in 62nd place and claiming the 1st veteran 50 prize – a great run the day after completing the 30 mile JW Ultra. Peter Walters finished 16th in 39mins 25secs (7th senior man) with Dave Rose 21st with a time of 40mins 24secs (4th vet 45), Rose had also run a 10mile leg in the JW Ultra the day before, James Douglas finished in 40mins 59secs, Kirk Andrews 44mins 37secs, Laurence Leeming-Latham 45min 43secs, James Sutton 47min 15secs, Ian Clarke 47mins 47secs (1st vet 55) and also his best 10km time this year, and Richard Dawson 48min 07secs.
ECH's Baskir wins Festival
Green Hope's girls did an excellent job running as a pack. Their top five runners all finished between the 31st and 45th places. Competing as individuals, Millbrook's Samantha George finished 12th with a time of 18:31 and Leesville Road's Lauren Strapp finished 18th at 18:44. The Green Hope boys also fared well. Green Hope's boys finished fifth overall with 189 points, led by Bryan's Spreitzer's eighth-place finish in 15:34. Spreitzer finished in a pack of North Carolina runers led by Reidy Jones of Broughton (sixth with a time of 15:29), followed by Cary's Mohamed Abushouk (15:30), who was competing as an individual. "Coming in, team-wise, we were just thinking the top 10 would be great," Green Hope coach Michael Miragliuolo said.
Reynoldsburg football concentrating on the positive
"Previously, we would have track kids running cross country to stay in shape, but that isn't the case for most who would have to pay $500 for cross country in the fall and $500 for track in the spring," Hammond related."It's tough to compete as a team with our numbers. We have only six girls running and that makes it tough to compete when schools like Upper Arlington have as many as 100 runners to choose a team from."He noted that three of the top five runners on the boys side are sophomores, meaning the long term prospects are good.Leading the boys contingent is sophomore Tsehaye Hiluf. He led the Raiders to a third-place team finish at the Sept. 5 Lebanon meet. Others earning points for the local team were: senior Lamar Booker, 11th; sophomore Khalid Omar, 15th; sophomore Jeremy Richard, 19th; senior Yemane Abebe, 25th; and senior Josh North, 32nd.The Raiders finished just 12 points behind winning Fairmont, but had a sizable 39-point advantage over third-place Lebanon.Junior Hiruy Abraha finished first in the open competition where competitors run unattached with a team in the meet.The girls team is led by senior Dani Watson, who finished fourth in a strong field.
Cross country Girls
Defending State 3A champion Nelson has three teammates running on her heels, including Kendra Weitz, Morris and newcomer Chelsea Chandler. "I'm a little nervous about how good they could be," coach Bob Isitt said. … State third-placer Central Valley returns four runners and has added freshman Skye Sanders to the mix. At the Tracy Walters invite, coach Dennis McGuire said, "I think we ran better than we did last year. We're going to be in the hunt." … Mead, a just-miss team state qualifier, will be in the hunt with the league's top runner Baylee Mires, a two-event state track champion. "This team is giving me their absolute best," coach Dori Robertson said. … Mt. Spokane brings back three top-16 district finishers under new coach Camille Moseley. … LC has sophomore state vet Keenan among five returnees who were five points away from state, but the Tigers are nursing injuries.
Field loaded at BV cross country invitational
In addition to the host Storm, the Kewanee, Annawan-Wethersfield and Mid-County cross country teams will be part of today's field. The running begins at 9:30 a.m. On the boys side, Donner said five of the top 12 teams in the state — according to DyeStatil.com rankings — are competing. Sterling Newman and Carlinville enter as the favorites, with host BV, Eureka, defending state champions Elmwood-Brimfield, Rock Falls and Knoxville all in the team title hunt. "It looks like it will be a showdown between two of the top four teams in the state for the team title, Newman and Carlinville," said Donner. "Both have two frontrunners that can compete for the individual title." For the full story, read Saturday's Star Courier. .
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