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Tigers win second straight regional cross country title

West Liberty-Salem places four in top 16; Greenon also advances.

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By Michael Cooper, Staff Writer 11:08 PM Saturday, October 29, 2011

TROY — The West Liberty-Salem High School girls cross country team didn’t care how it got to the state tournament. The Tigers just wanted to get there.

Still, they gladly took home a Division III regional title for the second straight season at the Southwest District regional championships at Troy High School on Saturday.

“In the back of our minds, we wanted to win it again,” WLS coach Ann Vogel said. “Our main focus was to get out (to the state meet). If that was fourth, fine, or if that was first, it was fine.”

The top four teams and top 16 individuals advanced to Saturday’s OHSAA state cross country championships. The event will be held at National Trail Raceway in Hebron for the first time this season.

Greenon also advanced in D-II, finishing fourth as a team.

The Tigers won the D-III title in dominating fashion, placing four runners in the top 16. Meghan Vogel was runner-up in a time of 19 minutes, 7 seconds. Shawnda Henault was fifth in 19:23 and was followed by Jasmine Smith (seventh, 19:33), Alyssa Strickland (16th, 20:16) and Jordan Smith (51st, 21:31).

“To get four in the top 16 with this field is just incredible,” Ann Vogel said. “They just ran really focused, and I’m real proud of how they stepped up at a big meet.”

The Greenon girls finished with 135 points, 10 better than fifth-place Indian Hill. They entered the season hoping to place high at state, but the goal recently became just getting there for the third straight season.

“The team as a whole has had so many ups and downs this year,” Wise said. “We can all breathe a sigh of relief. It was a nail-biter today.”

MacKenzie McMillin was fifth overall in 19:13, and was followed by Knights teammates Erica Miller (27th, 20:26), Lianne Masquelier (36th, 20:38), Mary Wenzell (42nd, 20;49) and Brittany Kozak (46th, 20:54).

Northwestern finished 10th in the D-II race with 235 points.

“We were happy to be here,” said Warriors coach Tracy Cleland. “We’ve got a young team, so we’re hoping the experience will help us next season.”

Tecumseh placed 13th in the D-I race with 336 points.

“These girls have really had a fantastic season,” said Arrows coach Dan Vaughan.

Several area runners came close to advancing to the state meet.

In D-II, Greeneview’s Cassie Tomlinson was 17th (19:56), while Northeastern’s Madison King was 18th (20:06). Catholic Central’s Emily Belovich was 20th (20:37) in D-III.

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