Cross-Country: Lynchburg-Clay qualifies for DIII state; Whiteoak’s Eyre places 2nd overall to return to DIII state; Hillsboro’s Winkle qualifies for DII state
At left, Hillsboro's Corbin Winkle, and at right, Whiteoak's Landen Eyre are pictured in HCP file photos. Center: The Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs celebrate their state berth at regionals. (File photos by Stephen Forsha/LCHS photo courtesy of Lynchburg-Clay Athletics)
On Saturday afternoon, the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs became state qualifiers following their fifth-place team performance at the 2024 Division III Regional Championships at Pickerington North High School.
The Mustangs scored 171 points for the fifth-place finish, as the Top 5 teams in the race became state qualifiers.
LC junior Kyler Fite led the way for the Mustangs with a 21st-place finish with a time of 16:54.54. Next was senior Asher Faust in 42nd place, finishing at 17:27.83.
The Mustangs then had junior Elam Faust in 68th place with a time of 18:08.49, and from there it was freshman Tavion Huguely at 18:12.01 for 72nd place. LCHS junior Wyatt Osborn finished in 78th place at 18:16.34.
The Mustangs also had senior Caden Faust with a time of 19:26.93, and freshman Linkin Barnett had a time of 22:07.95.
The team regional championship was won by Mount Gilead with a score of 52, followed by Fredericktown (86), Rock Hill (100), and in fourth place was Shenandoah (152).
Whiteoak senior Landen Eyre raced his way back to the Division III State Cross-Country Championship, as he finished in second place overall on Saturday with a time of 15:12.24. Last year, Eyre placed second at the state championships, as this season he’s already won the SHAC and district championships.
Placing first overall for the individual Div. III championship was Mount Gilead senior Will Baker with a time of 15:08.21.
Hillsboro senior Corbin Winkle finished in 17th place in the Division II Regional Championship race at Pickerington North High School on Saturday, qualifying for the state meet with a time of 16:15.47.
Winkle also qualified for state as a junior, where he was 67th overall.
The Indians in the Division II boys race had sophomore Rason Brunck with a time of 17:43.61 for 85th place, followed by senior Chris Sowders with a time of 18:59.55. Also for HHS, junior Cooper Swope had a time of 21:07.84, followed by teammates sophomore Jayden Wells (22:06.30) and freshman Trenton Gulley at 22:26.64.
In the Division III girls race, the Fairfield Lady Lions had senior Aylah Humphreys finish in 59th place in the Regional Girls race at Pickerington North High School with a time of 21:57.11 on Saturday.
Also in the Division III girls regional race, Whiteoak had sophomores Charli Hauke and Addy Hauke race in the event. Charli Hauke finished in 69th place at 22:16.96, and Addy Hauke was 81st overall at 22:56.03.
The 2024 OHSAA State Cross-Country Championship will be held Saturday, Nov. 2 at Fortress Obetz, beginning at 10 a.m.
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