Morgan Hicks, left, of Jonathan Alder, is pictured during the 2018 state cross country meet. Hicks won her individual race on Saturday at Dublin Jerome’s Celtic Clash. (Journal-Tribune file photo by Mac Cordell)
Most of the local high school cross country teams took advantage of excellent weather on Saturday to compete in the Dublin Jerome Celtic Clash.
Squads from Marysville, Fairbanks, North Union and Jonathan Alder were among the field.
Jonathan Alder’s girls captured their section championship with 54 points.
Buckeye Valley was right on JA’s heels with 55.
North Union was tenth with 210 and Fairbanks was 12th with 254.
Morgan Hicks of JA won the individual race with a time of 18:36.42.
Other Alder results in the top 30 were Eliza Streit, fourth, 19:38.77; Maddie Davis, ninth, 19:55.11; Evie McDaniel, 17th, 20:55.61; Avery Wynk, 23rd, 21:31.87; and Reggan Gray, 26th, 21:52.50.
Fairbanks’ top runners were Amelia Cameron, eighth, 19:47.57; and Rachael Hoover, 16th, 20:53.91.
NU’s top finisher was Kendal Music. She was 34th in 22:43.92.
Jonathan Alder’s boys placed second in their section with 93 points, behind Fredericktown, which posted 42.
North Union was 10th with 218.
Fairbanks’ boys did not have enough runners to complete a team score.
Alder’s finishes in the top 30 were as follows:
-Jonas Watkins, 11th, 17:15.80; Sergey Dutt, 13th, 17:17.02; Brady Corbitt, 18th, 17:29.85; Brady Tremayne, 25th, 17:56.43; Matthew Perkey, 26th, 17:58.09; and Luke Goode, 29th, 18:05.29.
North Union’s finishes in the top 30 were Jacob Willis, 20th, 17:33.32; and Casey Clark, 30th, 18:05.31.
FHS’ top two runners were Nathan Parks and Nicholas Powell. They were 90th and 91st respectively with times of 21:38.11 and 21:38.23.
Trey Good (92nd) was right behind them with a time of 21:38.58.
MHS’ boys and girls teams each placed 11th in their respective section races.
Hilliard Davidson won the boys section race with 51 points, while MHS tallied 262.
Leading the Monarch boys were Brian Boston (36th, 16:44), Preston Herring (42nd, 16:53), Riley Karnes (51st, 17:06), Jack Flanagan (60th, 17:16), Blake Murgatroyd (83rd, 17:33), Donovin Natividad (85th, 17:36) and Cannon Moser (106th, 18:00).
“The boys ran a momentum-building race,” said MHS coach Luke Sundermeier. “All 10 racers ran a PR (personal record) and many had their best pacing of the year.
“The 1-6 spread is tight and now they will work to raise their performance to another level when it matters most.”
Davidson also claimed the sectional title in the girls race with 57 points.
The Lady Monarchs finished with 233.
Leading the MHS girls were Bryn Hothem (12th, 19:35), Katie Krueger (13th, 19:36), Emerson Bautsch (64th, 21:30), Olivia Elliott (67th, 21:32), Emily Krueger (91st, 22:15), Maggie Zweizig (103rd, 22:29) and Alyssa Rodman (113th, 23:11).
“Overall, the girls had an outstanding team race,” said Sundermeier. “The pieces are beginning to come together for our bigger goals at the end of October.
“Bryn and Katie continue to race at a very high level and the pack is linking up well behind them,” he said. “We’re excited to see the full lineup racing together soon.”
Marysville’s Emerson Bautsch (right) is pictured competing down the stretch during Saturday’s Celtic Clash at Dublin Jerome. The Lady Monarchs placed 11th in their race. (Photo submitted)
Amelia Cameron of Fairbanks is pictured in this file photo. She was the top Lady Panther runner at the Celtic Clash. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)