Cross country's best headed to regionals

10/25/2012

All three divisions will hold cross country regional races Saturday at Hedges Boyer Park in Tiffin from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The top four teams and top 16 individuals (not on a qualifying team) will advance to the state meet.

The Liberty Center girls, led by sophomore Brittany Atkinson, will attempt to win a Division III regional title. The Tigers placed second at the regional last season, then won a state title as Atkinson capture the individual state title.

Last Saturday, Atkinson bettered her state title time with a time of 18 minutes, 6.37 seconds to take the district title. The Tigers' Kelly Haubert placed second (18:40.86), and Paige Chamberlain was fifth (19:57.27).

The Liberty-Benton girls also look to make a return trip to state after placing third at the regional last season.

The Eagles placed second at district, led by Madi Greiner's fourth-place finish (18:53.24).

Toledo Christian senior Delainey Phelps, who placed 14th at the regional to reach state last season, won a second straight district title last Saturday (17:57.77).

Phelps, who also helped the Eagles capture the district team title, hopes to lead TC to a state berth as a team. The Eagles just missed the last two years with a fifth- place finish and sixth-place finish.

In the Division II girls race, Wauseon looks to make a return trip to state after finishing fourth at the regional last fall. Sophomore Taylor Vernot won the district by a wide margin (18:28.26) with five runners among the top 20.

Vernot was third at regionals last year (19:25.69).

In the D-I regional, the Northview girls look to improve upon last season's second-place finish as a team.

The Wildcats captured a district title Saturday by taking the top three individual spots. Seniors Janelle Noe (first, 18:23.80), Abigail Masters (19:18.30), and Robin Foster (19:20.50) led the way.

Masters placed 14th at regionals last year, while Noe was 43rd.

Clay senior Erin Gyurke looks to head back to the D-I state meet for the third straight season. Gyurke won the District 2 title (19:05.00). She was fourth at the regional last year.

Also in D-I, Perrysburg junior Taylor Monheim aims to reach state again after placing 11th at the regional last year. Monheim finished second behind Gyurke (19:19.40) at the district.

In Division II in Galion, the Napoleon girls defended their district team title. Sophomore Maddie Grooms finished second with a time of 19:58.11, while junior Hannah Westhoven was third (20:03.33).

Port Clinton also advanced as a team with a fourth-place finish led by senior Abbi Pitts' seventh-place individual effort (20:18.31).

In the D-II District 3 race, Eastwood qualified as a team with a third-place finish. Junior Maddie Jackson placed fifth (19:38.58), while sophomore Meagan Kaminski was ninth (20:51.89).

On the boys side, St. Francis de Sales shoots for a return trip to state after winning the district title.

Senior Kyle Lach, who was third at districts (16:30.20), paces the Knights after finishing 21st at the regional last year (16:26.17). Daniel Siebenaller (41st, 16:48.98) and David St. John (44th, 16:50.51) also posted points at last year's regional.

Central Catholic's George McCartney and Charlie Gibbons will compete in D-I after finishing one-two at the district.

Lake junior Tyler Rickman placed third at the district to advance in Division II. Wauseon's Wade Hodges attempts to return to state after placing eighth at the regional last year. He will be joined by teammate Quintin Reiser.

Woodmore advanced as a team with a fourth-place finish at districts.

Contact Mark Monroe at: mmonroe@theblade.com, 419-724-6354 or on Twitter @MonroeBlade.