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WLS 3rd in D-III race, Greenon 7th in D-II

Local girls compete in state cross country championships.

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By Michael Cooper, Staff Writer 11:45 PM Saturday, November 5, 2011

HEBRON — Despite its third-place finish, the West Liberty-Salem High School girls cross country team couldn’t help but hide its disappointment.

The Tigers scored 111 points in the Division III race at the Ohio High School Athletic Association state championships on Saturday at National Trail Raceway, finishing one spot off the podium.

The Greenon High School girls team had its best finish in school history, placing seventh in the D-II race.

Liberty Center won the D-III race with 65 points, while Coldwater, last year’s state champ in D-II, was second with 82 points.

“We’re disappointed, but that’s what we were ranked coming in,” said Tigers coach Ann Vogel. “The other two teams were phenomenal, and Coldwater moving down from D-II didn’t help us.”

Junior Meghan Vogel led the way for the Tigers, placing sixth in a time of 18 minutes, 58 seconds.

Vogel was followed by junior Shawnda Henault (22nd, 19:29), junior Jasmine Smith (29th, 19:43), sophomore Alyssa Strickland (52nd, 20:10) and junior Jordan Smith (87th, 20:53) in the top five. Junior Savanna Shipp was 118th (21:48) and junior Sarah Williams was 141st (22:58).

Ann Vogel said the team performed well, but didn’t have the chips fall into place as far as winning a state title was concerned.

“I’m really proud of the way the girls ran,” Ann Vogel said. “There’s no disappointment there. I don’t think anyone had a bad race. Jordan Smith, our fifth, really stepped it up and had an awesome race.

“I can’t say enough about them as a team. They put themselves in a position to be at the state meet every year. Sometimes you get here and it doesn’t turn out how you want it to, but I couldn’t be prouder. I wouldn’t trade them for any other runners.”

Meghan Vogel earned All-Ohio honors by placing in the top 15. She also achieved a season-long goal of running in the 18s.

“To do it the last meet of the season is really awesome,” Meghan Vogel said.

They’ll return the entire team, and plan to put in even more miles next summer to make another run at the state title.

“We’ve already talked about it for 20 minutes,” Meghan Vogel said. “We’re setting our standards extremely high.”

Greenon coach Kim Wise was elated with her team’s seventh-place finish. They’ve improved each of the last three years, placing ninth in 2009 and eighth last season. They entered the race ranked ninth.

“I’m very happy with it,” Wise said. “We’re pretty excited about (the school record finish).”

Last week, the Knights placed fourth at the extremely tough D-II Troy Regional, which saw all four finishers place in the top nine. Alter was third, while Napoleon was fifth and Bellbrook was ninth. Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary’s won its second straight state title.

Sophomore Lianne Masquelier was the Knights’ top finisher, placing 37th in 19:45. Senior MacKenzie McMillin was 47th (19:54) and was followed by senior Mary Wenzell (69th, 20:16), senior Erica Miller (76th, 20:24), freshman Brittany Kozak (114th, 20:53), senior Sydney Lewis (138th, 21:46) and senior Kelli Barker (151st, 22:50).

“They left it out there and did what they could today,” Wise said. “It’s a good way for the seniors to go out.”

They’ll graduate five seniors from the team, four of whom ran in three straight state cross country meets.

“It’s a great class,” Wise said. “They’re great kids. I’m happy we had some new runners they’ve been able to mentor this year. They’ve been great leaders. I think they’re leaving the team in a really good position the next couple of years.”

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