Jonathan Alder’s girls cross-country team is pictured from left, front row, Amanda Simmons, Sarah Malone, Chloe Fields, Kate Curtiss, Liza Streit, Evie McDaniel and Mattie Shoemaker; second row, Reggan Gray, Helena O’Connor, Emma Kennedy, Maggie Malone, Maddy Headings and Jessica Kelley; back row, coach Alicia Tremayne, Avery Wynk, Lauren Wynk, head coach Justin Creps, Natalie Heflin, Kalyn Greiner and coach Jameson Ehret. Not pictured, Joselyn Zuro and coach Alex Irwin. (Photo submitted)
Boys cross-country runners for JA are from left, front row, Brady Tremayne, Jonas Watkins, Greg Nussman, Matt Hirshberg and Jameson Cook; second row, coach Alicia Tremayne, coach Jameson Ehret, Eddie Barnes, Chase Gray, Matthew Perkey and head coach Justin Creps; third row, Teegan Headings, Will Jackson, Ben Jackson, Luke Goode and Sergey Dutt. Not pictured, Lucas White, Mason Hermiller, Colyn McDaniel and coach Alex Irwin. (Photo submitted)
Runners for Jonathan Alder and North Union traversed the Springfield Northwestern course Saturday morning with the Pioneers taking home the gold in both boys’ and girls’ categories.
The Wildcats placed seventh in in the girls’ race and ninth in the boys’.
The crown of the Central Buckeye Conference was dawned upon JA after the conclusion of Saturday’s meet.
In both races, the Pioneers placed five runners in the top 15 place finishers, leading to the team claiming the title in each respective event.
Eliza Strait was JA’s top placer in the girls’ race, finishing second with a time of 20:38.7. Fellow top 10 place finishers included Reggan Gray (sixth, 21:18.9) and Evie McDaniel (eighth, 21:48.0).
Additional racers for the Lady Pioneers included Lauren Wynk (12th, 22:08.0), Kalyn Greiner (15th, 22:17.5), Avery Wynk (16th, 22:21.9), Natalie Heflin (28th, 23:04.4), Emma Kennedy (37th, 23:32.3), Amanda Simmons (38th, 23:32.3), Joselyn Zuro (42nd, 23:47.9), Jessica Kennedy (47th, 24:07.8) and Maggie Malone (81st, 26:40.1).
On the boys’ side of the course, the Pioneers had an additional three runners place in the top 10 — Brady Tremayne (eighth, 18:13.17), Sergey Dutt (ninth, 18:17.3) and Lucas White (10th, 18:28.0).
Additional runners for the Pioneers included Will Jackson (12th, 18:33.6), Matthew Perkey (13th, 18:35.3), Greg Nussbaum (15th, 18:39.0), Jonas Watkins (25th, 19:05.8), Luke Goode (36th, 19:41.9), Chase Gray (45th, 20:03.7), Mason Hermiller (46th, 20:05.5), Ben Jackson (49th, 20:15.6) and Teagan Headings (66th, 20:52.3).
Ashley Hayward was North Union’s highest placer, finishing 13th with a time of 22:08.8. Also competing for the Lady Wildcats included Lauren Hall (39th, 23:32.5), Savanah Amstutz (43rd, 23:48.3), Kendal Music (60th, 24:46.3), Hayley Dailey (63rd, 25:39.9), Catherine Hinkle (76th, 26:06.9) and Aunna Kasler (84th, 26:45.1).
Wildcats’ Tyler Huff was North Union’s top place finisher, taking 24th with a time of 19:03.5. Additional contestants for North Union included Casey Clark (31st, 19:18.0), Mitchell Marlette (64th, 20:45.2), Traven Reber (76th, 21:30.4), John Popovich (78th, 21:38.9), Troy Harvey (78th, 21:44.4), Levi Bard (80th, 21:49.0) and William Popovich (22:35.5).
In middle school cross country action, JA added another win. Ella Luker spearheaded the Lady Pioneers finishing fourth (13:04.8) . Walker Martini placed third in the boys’ meet with a time of 11:38.4.
For the Wildcats, Gabby Lindsey took second overall in a time of 12:30.7. Other scoring runners for North Union included Kailin McElroy (8th, 14:01.7), Kennedy Ludwig (12th, 14:18.9), Lexi Galinghorst (18th, 14:34.5), and Josie Held (41st, 15:48.3).
In the middle school boys race, the Wildcats claimed fifth with Max Leavitt (14th, 12:47.0) and Zach Meyer (15th, 12:54.8) leading the way. Contributing contestants included Copper Music (26th, 13:26.6), Felix Plouck (34rd, 13:47.7) and Drew Cardwell (58th, 15:29.3).