The Mount Gilead boys’ cross country team cruised to the team title in the first of two Division III races hosted by Hilliard Darby as part of the district meet on Saturday.
The Indians finished with 21 points, while second-place Fairfield Christian tallied 93. Will Baker ran away with the race, finishing in 15:25.04 — over 44 seconds in front of second place. Owen Hershner tallied third place in 16:09.28 and Tommy Emberg was fourth in 16:45.54. Henry Bartlett took sixth in 16:56.45, while Nolan Hershner placed seventh in 16:57.53. Also, Liam Stalnaker ran 13th in 17:36.79 and Ethan Turner got 14th in 17:40.04.
Also winning a district title was the Northmor girls’ cross country team. They won the second Division III girls’ race with 57 points to top Fairbanks (66) and Mount Gilead (69).
Ryann Brinkman placed second overall in 20:05.51 to lead the team. Natalie Hunter ran sixth in 20:40.01 and Kate Lehman was 15th in 21:28.5, while Natalie Newman claimed 16th in 21:37.26. Hannah Ambroise ran 23rd in 22:09.01, Veronica Kanagy took 26th in 22:25.26 and Macie Witherall got 33rd in 22:40.26.
In the second Division III boys’ race, Northmor moved on to regionals by placing second to Fredericktown. The Golden Knights tallied 71 points in the meet.
David Blunk led the team by running fifth in 16:33.66. Dane Creswell placed 17th in 17:39.41 and Levi Hunter was 20th in 18:05.4, while Owen Yunker took 21st in 18:09.4. Vinton Naylor ran 25th in 18:13.66, Anthony Scheibe claimed 34th in 18:30.9 and Carter Thomas took 42nd in 18:52.16.
In placing third in the second Division III girls’ race to advance to regionals, Mount Gilead had the individual champion in Kimberly Staley, who finished in 19:50.76. Gwen Hershner placed fifth in 20:40.01, while Haley Pfeifer finished 12th in 21:09.77 and Adriana Hershner took 14th in 21:28.27. Also, Danielle Pohlkotte was 46th in 23:48.75, Ava Baker took 51st in 24:29.7 and Natalie Jagger placed 52nd in 24:29.96.
The Highland Lady Scots also advanced to the regional meet. Competing in the second Division II girls’ race, the team finished third with 79 points.
Braylin Romshak took 11th in 21:56.85 to pace the Scots, while Riley Matthews was 15th in 23:03.61. Rose Green claimed 17th in 23:26.36 and Abbie Pruett finished 18th in 23:43.86. Chloe Bolton ran 27th in 25:09.11, Aubrey Kanagy took 32nd in 25:40.06 and Brielle Gilmore claimed 42nd in 27:49.6.
The Cardington girls’ cross country team finished fifth in the second Division III race, but had one individual qualifier in Magi Hallabrin, who claimed fourth place in 20:39.51. Sydney Meade ran 22nd in 22:08.75 and Dezzeray Mooney placed 31st in 22:38.51. Chessa Redman finished 42nd in 23:10.75 and Alayna Seavolt took 48th in 23:54.26, while Madison Garrabrant ran 49th in 24:15.01 and Bailey Crone finished 53rd in 24:35.51.
In the first Division III boys’ race, Cardington placed sixth and had one regional qualifier.
Dylan Compton placed ninth in 17:02.79 to gain one of the at-large spots given to runners placing in the top 12. Riley Patterson ran 29th in 18:52.28, while Cohen Rammelsberg finished 37th in 19:53.04 and Brayden Alwood claimed 38th in 19:53.79. Jaxon Ongalibang placed 42nd in 20:29.28, Danny Townsend was 62nd in 22:06.53 and Jacob McNichols took 72nd in 25:20.27.
Competing in the second Division II boys’ race, Highland just missed out on a trip to regionals by placing fourth.
Cael Gilmore took 17th place in 17:20.94, while Matthew Miller ran 20th in 17:31.94 and Jayden Marcum claimed 24th in 17:58.18. Henry Spence placed 27th in 18:06.93 and Ethan Harmon was 33rd in 18:39.19. Also, Caden Barsic ran 40th in 19:19.18, while Maddox Weiss placed 43rd in 19:50.94.
Rob Hamilton can be reached at 419-946-3010, ext. 1807. Connect with him on Twitter at @SportsMCS
