Catholic Central’s two-person team of Addie Engel and Bridget Engel finished 1-2 for the second straight week, with Addie capturing the Division III regional championship in a course-record 17:43.4. Bridget finished in 18:48.1.
»RELATED: Saturday’s high school roundup
Minster’s Sunni Olding, a three-time state champion, previously held the course record with 17:51.6 in 2003.
“I think it’s a big confidence boost,” said Engel, who is preparing to take her final high school meet in stride. “I’d like to go and have fun at my last high school meet.”
West Liberty-Salem held off Fort Loramie for the D-III team title, scoring 32 points to Loramie’s 39. Those teams are ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, in the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches state poll. Both trail defending state champion Minster.
All three go head-to-head-to-head at the state championship meet at National Trail Raceway near Hebron on Saturday.
West Liberty-Salem has qualified for the state meet four straight seasons and nine overall. This season, though, has a different feel to it. The Big Orange finished 20th in 2016, ninth in 2017 and fourth last year.
“This year going in … we’re going to change our mindset a lot,” senior Grace Adams said. “Instead of just making it to state and being happy – ‘Oh yay we’re here’ – we’re going for the title.”
Sophomore Megan Adams (19:13.2) led West Liberty-Salem with a third-place finish behind the Engel twins. Junior Katelyn Stapleton (19:35.3), Adams (19:57.9), junior Madison Bahan (20:01.5), senior Lydia Moell (20:32.9), sophomore Mandilyn Weaver (21:49.4) and freshman Maggie Davis (21:51.1) rounded out the regional championship team.
“Our team mentality is ‘we before me,’” West Liberty-Salem coach Ann Vogel said. “It’s great at the start line they’ll say (to each other) I’m running for you, I’m running for you. That’s a pretty cool thing to witness as a coach. … The mindset that this is a team and everyone counts is a big part of our success.”
In D-II girls, Shawnee qualified for the sixth straight season and ninth time overall. Sophomore Audrey DeSantis (18:44.9) finished fourth overall to lead the Braves, who scored 77 points to regional champ Oakwood’s 71. Senior Olivia Warax (19:18.1), sophomore Tess Holcomb (20:26.9), senior Caylee Hirtzinger (20:45.4), sophomore Abigail Klemmensen (20:47.1), senior Madi Canley (22:55.5) and junior Tori Malicki (23:22.3) also competed for Shawnee.
Northwestern senior Kassidy Carpenter (19:46) also qualified. Tecumseh senior Kylee Mastin (19:11.3) advanced in D-I girls.
In D-II boys, West Liberty-Salem finished third to qualify. Sophomore Dylan Lauck (16:42.4) finished third to lead the Big Orange. He was joined by sophomore Tate Yoder (17:01.4), senior Noah Smith (17:12.5), senior Cade Clerico (17:57.9), junior Hayden Kennedy (18:06.4), senior Gavin Harrison (18:22.7) and freshman Andrew Kimmel (18:29.6).
Northwestern senior Drew Blazer (16:44.7), Shawnee sophomore Jordyn Dillavou (17:00.7) and Greenon junior Gavin Patrick (17:00.9) also qualified for the D-II meet.
“(Carpenter qualifying) definitely makes it a lot more fun going with someone else on the team,” Blazer said. “It’s the accumulation of hard work paying off. … I’m hoping we get a lot more Clark County guys there, too.”
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