Boys squad wins regional, girls team takes third
It will be familiar territory for the West Liberty-Salem boys and girls cross
country teams this week as they are both heading back to the state meet.
Saturday’s regional meet in Troy was another impressive showing for the Big Orange.
The boys finished atop the podium in Division II, while the girls team placed third in Division III.
For the Division II boys meet, the top four teams and the top 16 runners advanced to state.
The Division III girls race advanced the top three teams and top 12 runners.
The state meet is Saturday at Fortress Obetz in suburban Columbus.
The Big Orange girls will run at 10:45 a.m. and the boys will run at noon.
The Big Orange boys claimed their regional championship Saturday with 57 points. Versailles was second (82), with Cincinnati Hill Christian Academy (99) and Oakwood (103) the other team qualifiers.
WL-S won the Division III regional title last year, making this the first back-to-back regional titles since the team’s run in 1976-79. It is the seventh straight trip to state and 23rd overall.
Senior Asher Knox led the team with a fifth-place finish in a personal-record time of 15:59. Caleb Larson was right behind in sixth (16:01), followed by Dylan King (12th, 16:32); Asher Cole (17th, 16:47) and Brayan Gullett (19th,16:49).
Also in action were Troy Bradley (28th, 17:06) and Garrett Wallen (53rd, 17:46). There were 104 runners in the field.
“Winning is never easy, especially at the Division II level, so to take home the regional championship is an amazing accomplishment,” said WL-S boys coach Mike Louden.“I’m just so proud of the way these young men show up week after week and perform at a high level. We’re very excited to be heading to the state meet.”
“Individually, I thought Asher Knox ran his best race of the year, meticulously moving up the entire race,” added Louden. “Caleb Larson also had a special performance. Dylan King has put back-to-back solid races together, while Asher Cole and Brayan Gullett, our two freshmen, handled themselves well, considering this was their first regional contest. Troy Bradley and Garrett WIlson also ran solid races, with Troy setting a season best.”
The Big Orange girls ran their way to a third-place finish out of 11 teams in the Division III
race.
Madeira (72 points) and Summit Country Day (73) were the top two.
Malia Miller led WL-S in fourth (19:20) and Addi Wallen was fifth (19:21), with Gwen McCullough (10th, 19:38); Isla Leichty (25th, 20:56); and Mariska Smith (33rd, 21:21) part of the team score. Others in action were Ivy Matthews (49th, 22:13) and Isabella Hughes (66th, 23:56).
“I am so proud of these girls,” said first-year WL-S girls head coach Aaron Lauck. “We were ready for a battle knowing a top- seven OATCCC state- ranked team would not make it out of our region. Based on the district performances, we were the outside team looking in. Our team embraced the challenge, handled the pressure, and came away with a state berth. To be so close to first place was amazing. It is also note- worthy that Malia, Addi, and Gwen all would have qualified individually. We are encouraged going into
state. These girls are battle-tested and ready to compete.”