Engel said she didn’t set a goal as to where she wanted to finish on the 3.1-mile course at National Trail Raceway. And if she had, she would have never imagined finishing so high.
“I definitely was not thinking that,” Engel said after finishing in 18 minutes, 41.02 seconds. “I wasn’t sure how I was going to do (this season) playing both sports.”
The soccer and cross country standout still plans to do the double next season as well. But her run to a regional championship last week and Saturday’s podium finish at state has her considering attending a few more cross country practices and doing more meets.
“The sky is the limit for her,” Catholic Central coach Chris Cerone said. “She’s just a very athletic person and with the talent she has, we’ll see.”
Cerone said Engel logged her best finish time-wise Saturday by about 18 seconds. That kept her in a lead group that included three seniors, one junior, two sophomores and another freshman.
As for Cerone, he was hoping for a top-20 finish that would put her on the podium.
“I did a lot better than I expected,” Engel said. “I was hoping to do well but I didn’t have a specific goal. That kind of surprised me.”
West Liberty-Salem’s girls also competed in the D-III meet and finished 20th. Junior Reghan Bieleski led the Tigers in 47th in 19:43.5. While Bieleski is a three-time participant, the Tigers were making their first trip as a team since 2012.
“I was hoping to do a little better, but my time this year was better than the last two years,” she said. “I think having my team with me really helped me get ready. … With my team here it’s like any other meet. I think it helps everybody do better.”
In D-II, the Shawnee Braves qualified both their boys and girls teams.
The boys finished 11th out of 20 teams after their seventh straight appearance and 13th overall. Senior Joel Rodgers led the team in 67th and senior Josh Hayes was next in 77th. Shawnee returns five runners – three sophomores and two freshmen – for another strong bid for state.
The Shawnee girls finished 17th in their third straight appearance and fifth overall. Junior Grace Holmes was 68th overall to pace the team. The Braves graduated three seniors with Sophie Smith (98), Rebecca Penrose (108) and Morgan Huggins (DNF).
Also in D-II, Greenon junior Max Pettit finished 30th in the boys race and Northwestern senior Ryan Cleland finished 81st.
In D-III boys, Emmanuel Christian Academy senior Justin Webster finished 27th and West Liberty-Salem junior Nick Williams was 49th.
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