Whiteoak boys earn 1st district XC championship in school history; individual Highland County athletes qualify for regionals
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On Saturday, Oct. 23 at the University of Rio Grande, the Southeast District Division III race was held. Twenty full teams toed the starting line, and the Whiteoak Wildcats were the top team standing 3.1 miles later.
Whiteoak finished with a score of 88, and the runner-up Waterford was a distant 57 spots behind. With the achievement, Whiteoak won the first cross-country district championship in school history.
Whiteoak was led by freshman Landen Eyre, who finished in second place out of 141 runners with a time of 16:59. Right behind Eyre was Weston Blair, who had his race of the season and finished third at 17:01.
Also for the Wildcats, Wade Evans was 27th (19:00), Bryce Van Hoy 29th (19:05), Robbie Raines 30th (19:05), Connor Butler 59th (20:15) and Evan DeAtley 66th (20:29).
Coach Doug Hughes said he was extremely proud of his team.
“We came in wanting to win it all, but we were behind the 8-ball a bit being without our strong No. 3 man Christian Price,” Hughes said. “That also motivated us even more. The kids wanted it for themselves, but they also wanted to win this for their teammate.
“Eyre did what he’s done all season. Weston Blair… man, that kid was ready to race. He refused to let up and was sensational [Saturday], tremendous focus and drive. Evans, Van Hoy, Butler and DeAtley were right where we needed them to be to get the job done. Senior Robbie Raines had a big day. He’s done it in the past and it was debatable if he should be in our top seven based on our season stats, but I knew he had it in him. I gave him a strategy, and he stuck to it and easily finished in our top five. I love seeing him finish strong.”
Whiteoak moves to 130-18 on the season, according to Hughes.
“We’ve raced in some big-time races and went away from smaller nearby meets, and it’s helped take us to the next level,” Hughes said. “Whiteoak is 109-6 against all divisions of Southeast District teams and are 59-0 against Southeast District Division III teams.”
Whiteoak will compete in the regionals next Saturday at Pickerington North High School.
• • •
Highland County individual runners qualify for regionals
The Highland County Press
In addition to the Whiteoak boys cross-country team, athletes from Hillsboro, Lynchburg-Clay and Fairfield also qualified for regionals after competing in the Division II and Division III meets held Saturday, Oct. 23 at the University of Rio Grande.
Hillsboro sophomore Ramsey Haines qualified for regionals by finishing in 24th place in the Div. II girls race with a time of 21:37.16.
In the Division III boys meet, Fairfield sophomore Landry Hattan finished 10th with a time of 18:07.31, followed closely by Lynchburg-Clay senior Austin Barnhill in 11th (18:11.38) to advance to the next round.
For Division III girls, Fairfield freshman Aylah Humphries qualified for regionals with a 21st-place finish at 22:44.74.
Also competing at districts were the following athletes.
• The Fairfield girls team was ninth in the Div. III meet with a team score of 229. Individual finishers were: 61st Makenna Colwell (senior), 25:59.64; 83rd Makenzie Miller (junior), 27:51.01; 85th Nayomie Ludwick (senior), 28:03.31; 86th Anna Davis (senior), 28:06.94; and 123rd Campbell Friend (sophomore), 34:55.43.
• Fairfield boys also finished ninth as a team in the Div. III meet with a score of 238. Individual finishers were: 44th Nolan Campbell (sophomore), 19:37.93; 51st Larkin Friend (sophomore), 19:54.77; 71st Dalton Hampton (junior), 20:43.82; 83rd Britton Campbell (sophomore), 21:20.37; 131st Hayden Barrera (sophomore), 26:37.28; and 140th Elijah Humphreys (junior), 30:41.80.
• Lynchburg-Clay boys were 12th as a team at the Div. III meet with a score of 271. Individual finishers were: 41st Asher Faust (freshman), 19:29.99; 50th Caden Faust (freshman), 19:50.64; 88th Landen Kohus (sophomore), 21:36.58; and 104th Brady Chisman (junior), 22:45.66.
• Also finishing 12th was the Hillsboro girls team in the Div. II meet, as their score was 310. Individual finishers were: 57th Bryauna Bailey (sophomore), 23:41.05; 77th Brooklyn Lucarello (sophomore), 24:37.58; 78th Brooklyn Minton (junior), 24:40.24; 99th Emily Letts (junior), 25:33.39; 104th Abbey Letts (freshman), 25:49.74; and 112th Allison Browning (sophomore), 26:31.97.
• Hillsboro boys were 17th in the Div. II meet with a score of 455. Individual finishers were: 38th Corbin Winkle (freshman), 18:34.10; 82nd Garet Thompson (junior), 20:03.10; 113th Chris Sowders (freshman), 21:26.39; 139th Curtis Pegram (freshman), 23:22.74; and 140th Jacob Schommer (sophomore), 23:27.83.
• The McClain girls were 19th in the Div. II meet with a score of 448. Individual finishers were: 60th Brooke Baldwin (freshman), 23:58.74; 90th Katrina Sturgeon (sophomore), 25:02.55; 92nd Sierra Barton (sophomore), 25:11.64;123rd Hailey Legge (junior), 28:43.34; 128th Kathy Alvarez (junior), 30:00.86; 130th Harlee Hammond (sophomore), 31:26.91; and 136th Allie Flowers (sophomore), 35:21.41.
• McClain boys also came in 19th place in the Div. II meet, totaling a score of 524. Individual finishers were: 84th Robert Surritt (sophomore), 20:13.05; 115th Garett George (senior), 21:30.11; 123rd Luke Bliss (senior), 21:59.25; 128th Mason Reichman (senior), 22:20.72; 136th Jackson Crago (sophomore), 23:02.87; 155th Lucas Howard (freshman), 27:46.05; and 156th Gavin McCune (junior), 28:44.56.
• Lynchburg-Clay girls did not field a full team. Individual finishers were: 35th Macy Etienne (sophomore), 23:51.64; 45th Raelynn Ruble (senior), 24:53.76; and 60th Allie Etienne (senior), 25:57.34.
• Whiteoak girls also did not field a full team. Individual finishers were: 57th Claire Ames (sophomore), 25:48.32; 97th Madison Thompson (sophomore), 29:25.10; and 106th Grace Raines (freshman), 30:23.28.
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On Saturday, Oct. 23 at the University of Rio Grande, the Southeast District Division III race was held. Twenty full teams toed the starting line, and the Whiteoak Wildcats were the top team standing 3.1 miles later.
Whiteoak finished with a score of 88, and the runner-up Waterford was a distant 57 spots behind. With the achievement, Whiteoak won the first cross-country district championship in school history.
Whiteoak was led by freshman Landen Eyre, who finished in second place out of 141 runners with a time of 16:59. Right behind Eyre was Weston Blair, who had his race of the season and finished third at 17:01.
Also for the Wildcats, Wade Evans was 27th (19:00), Bryce Van Hoy 29th (19:05), Robbie Raines 30th (19:05), Connor Butler 59th (20:15) and Evan DeAtley 66th (20:29).
Coach Doug Hughes said he was extremely proud of his team.
“We came in wanting to win it all, but we were behind the 8-ball a bit being without our strong No. 3 man Christian Price,” Hughes said. “That also motivated us even more. The kids wanted it for themselves, but they also wanted to win this for their teammate.
“Eyre did what he’s done all season. Weston Blair… man, that kid was ready to race. He refused to let up and was sensational [Saturday], tremendous focus and drive. Evans, Van Hoy, Butler and DeAtley were right where we needed them to be to get the job done. Senior Robbie Raines had a big day. He’s done it in the past and it was debatable if he should be in our top seven based on our season stats, but I knew he had it in him. I gave him a strategy, and he stuck to it and easily finished in our top five. I love seeing him finish strong.”
Whiteoak moves to 130-18 on the season, according to Hughes.
“We’ve raced in some big-time races and went away from smaller nearby meets, and it’s helped take us to the next level,” Hughes said. “Whiteoak is 109-6 against all divisions of Southeast District teams and are 59-0 against Southeast District Division III teams.”
Whiteoak will compete in the regionals next Saturday at Pickerington North High School.
• • •
Highland County individual runners qualify for regionals
The Highland County Press
In addition to the Whiteoak boys cross-country team, athletes from Hillsboro, Lynchburg-Clay and Fairfield also qualified for regionals after competing in the Division II and Division III meets held Saturday, Oct. 23 at the University of Rio Grande.
Hillsboro sophomore Ramsey Haines qualified for regionals by finishing in 24th place in the Div. II girls race with a time of 21:37.16.
In the Division III boys meet, Fairfield sophomore Landry Hattan finished 10th with a time of 18:07.31, followed closely by Lynchburg-Clay senior Austin Barnhill in 11th (18:11.38) to advance to the next round.
For Division III girls, Fairfield freshman Aylah Humphries qualified for regionals with a 21st-place finish at 22:44.74.
Also competing at districts were the following athletes.
• The Fairfield girls team was ninth in the Div. III meet with a team score of 229. Individual finishers were: 61st Makenna Colwell (senior), 25:59.64; 83rd Makenzie Miller (junior), 27:51.01; 85th Nayomie Ludwick (senior), 28:03.31; 86th Anna Davis (senior), 28:06.94; and 123rd Campbell Friend (sophomore), 34:55.43.
• Fairfield boys also finished ninth as a team in the Div. III meet with a score of 238. Individual finishers were: 44th Nolan Campbell (sophomore), 19:37.93; 51st Larkin Friend (sophomore), 19:54.77; 71st Dalton Hampton (junior), 20:43.82; 83rd Britton Campbell (sophomore), 21:20.37; 131st Hayden Barrera (sophomore), 26:37.28; and 140th Elijah Humphreys (junior), 30:41.80.
• Lynchburg-Clay boys were 12th as a team at the Div. III meet with a score of 271. Individual finishers were: 41st Asher Faust (freshman), 19:29.99; 50th Caden Faust (freshman), 19:50.64; 88th Landen Kohus (sophomore), 21:36.58; and 104th Brady Chisman (junior), 22:45.66.
• Also finishing 12th was the Hillsboro girls team in the Div. II meet, as their score was 310. Individual finishers were: 57th Bryauna Bailey (sophomore), 23:41.05; 77th Brooklyn Lucarello (sophomore), 24:37.58; 78th Brooklyn Minton (junior), 24:40.24; 99th Emily Letts (junior), 25:33.39; 104th Abbey Letts (freshman), 25:49.74; and 112th Allison Browning (sophomore), 26:31.97.
• Hillsboro boys were 17th in the Div. II meet with a score of 455. Individual finishers were: 38th Corbin Winkle (freshman), 18:34.10; 82nd Garet Thompson (junior), 20:03.10; 113th Chris Sowders (freshman), 21:26.39; 139th Curtis Pegram (freshman), 23:22.74; and 140th Jacob Schommer (sophomore), 23:27.83.
• The McClain girls were 19th in the Div. II meet with a score of 448. Individual finishers were: 60th Brooke Baldwin (freshman), 23:58.74; 90th Katrina Sturgeon (sophomore), 25:02.55; 92nd Sierra Barton (sophomore), 25:11.64;123rd Hailey Legge (junior), 28:43.34; 128th Kathy Alvarez (junior), 30:00.86; 130th Harlee Hammond (sophomore), 31:26.91; and 136th Allie Flowers (sophomore), 35:21.41.
• McClain boys also came in 19th place in the Div. II meet, totaling a score of 524. Individual finishers were: 84th Robert Surritt (sophomore), 20:13.05; 115th Garett George (senior), 21:30.11; 123rd Luke Bliss (senior), 21:59.25; 128th Mason Reichman (senior), 22:20.72; 136th Jackson Crago (sophomore), 23:02.87; 155th Lucas Howard (freshman), 27:46.05; and 156th Gavin McCune (junior), 28:44.56.
• Lynchburg-Clay girls did not field a full team. Individual finishers were: 35th Macy Etienne (sophomore), 23:51.64; 45th Raelynn Ruble (senior), 24:53.76; and 60th Allie Etienne (senior), 25:57.34.
• Whiteoak girls also did not field a full team. Individual finishers were: 57th Claire Ames (sophomore), 25:48.32; 97th Madison Thompson (sophomore), 29:25.10; and 106th Grace Raines (freshman), 30:23.28.
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