Whiteoak earns 3rd consecutive SHAC boys cross-country title; Eyre wins individual championship
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On Saturday, Oct. 15 at Ripley High School, the Whiteoak Wildcats cross-country team earned for a third consecutive Southern Hills Athletic Conference championship.
In 2020, Whiteoak captured their first title in 35 years. In 2021, Whiteoak went back to back. This year, Whiteoak has battled a mess of injuries.
“Cross-country is a tough sport, and it’s a very fine line to manage working very hard to doing too much and getting banged up,” Coach Doug Hughes said. “Our kids have worked very hard this season in an attempt to attain all of our goals, but every one of our #2 through #7 runners have had issues during the season that set them back or slowed down their ability to improve.”
On Saturday, though, they didn’t show too much of any of that as they ran their way to their third consecutive league title. Leading the way for Whiteoak was sophomore Landen Eyre, who just attacked the course and pushed the lead vehicle to head-shaking speeds, as he ran the 3.1-mile course in 15:40 to finish first overall.
Coach Hughes had great compliments for his top runner
“I think this is the 15th or 16th straight year the SHAC meet has been at Ripley, and I think that’s the best time I’ve ever seen anyone run that course,” Hughes said. “[Eyre] was cruising in, his most comfortable race of the season to date.
“Everyone knows he’s a great runner, but few know how hard he works. He pushed 600 miles this summer, and his workouts never let up. It’s crazy how much he gets in at practice. He’s working his tail off and reaping the benefits of it. He’s mentally and physically superior to last year.”
Teammate Christian Price rose to the occasion with a third-place finish out of the 71 competitors. The senior runner finished in 17:19.
Weston Blair was back for his first meet in a month, and while not 100 percent, still managed a fifth-place finish at 17:45. Seniors Wade Evans and Bryce Van Hoy ensured the Wildcats would end victorious as Evans took 10th place at 18:14 and Van Hoy was 14th at 18:33.
“Wade ran his best time this year and earned his fourth career all-league award for XC,” Hughes added. “I’ve never had anyone do that before. My top five all made it to all-league, and it was much tougher this year.”
Senior Evan DeAtley and freshman Shawn Mitchell-Cox ran well enough to displace some competitors by beating their #5 men. DeAtley was 22nd at 19:29, and Mitchell-Cox was 29th at 19:53.
Rounding out the running for the victorious Wildcats were Linus Wik, 35th (20:18); Shane Mitchell-Cox, 46th (21:23); Austin Richards, 52nd (21:21); Jake Ward, 54th (22:13); and Cody Richards, 70th (28:55).
Final team results included:
1. Whiteoak (33)
2. North Adams (62)
3. Fairfield (68)
4. Manchester (68)
5. Peebles (133)
6. West Union (175)
7. Ripley (186).
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In 2020, Whiteoak captured their first title in 35 years. In 2021, Whiteoak went back to back. This year, Whiteoak has battled a mess of injuries.
“Cross-country is a tough sport, and it’s a very fine line to manage working very hard to doing too much and getting banged up,” Coach Doug Hughes said. “Our kids have worked very hard this season in an attempt to attain all of our goals, but every one of our #2 through #7 runners have had issues during the season that set them back or slowed down their ability to improve.”
On Saturday, though, they didn’t show too much of any of that as they ran their way to their third consecutive league title. Leading the way for Whiteoak was sophomore Landen Eyre, who just attacked the course and pushed the lead vehicle to head-shaking speeds, as he ran the 3.1-mile course in 15:40 to finish first overall.
Coach Hughes had great compliments for his top runner
“I think this is the 15th or 16th straight year the SHAC meet has been at Ripley, and I think that’s the best time I’ve ever seen anyone run that course,” Hughes said. “[Eyre] was cruising in, his most comfortable race of the season to date.
“Everyone knows he’s a great runner, but few know how hard he works. He pushed 600 miles this summer, and his workouts never let up. It’s crazy how much he gets in at practice. He’s working his tail off and reaping the benefits of it. He’s mentally and physically superior to last year.”
Teammate Christian Price rose to the occasion with a third-place finish out of the 71 competitors. The senior runner finished in 17:19.
Weston Blair was back for his first meet in a month, and while not 100 percent, still managed a fifth-place finish at 17:45. Seniors Wade Evans and Bryce Van Hoy ensured the Wildcats would end victorious as Evans took 10th place at 18:14 and Van Hoy was 14th at 18:33.
“Wade ran his best time this year and earned his fourth career all-league award for XC,” Hughes added. “I’ve never had anyone do that before. My top five all made it to all-league, and it was much tougher this year.”
Senior Evan DeAtley and freshman Shawn Mitchell-Cox ran well enough to displace some competitors by beating their #5 men. DeAtley was 22nd at 19:29, and Mitchell-Cox was 29th at 19:53.
Rounding out the running for the victorious Wildcats were Linus Wik, 35th (20:18); Shane Mitchell-Cox, 46th (21:23); Austin Richards, 52nd (21:21); Jake Ward, 54th (22:13); and Cody Richards, 70th (28:55).
Final team results included:
1. Whiteoak (33)
2. North Adams (62)
3. Fairfield (68)
4. Manchester (68)
5. Peebles (133)
6. West Union (175)
7. Ripley (186).
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