Freshman Makenna Long running hot on the heels of eventual second place finisher Emily Woodard of Beavercreek.
Photos Ron Nunnari | Register-Herald
CLAYTON — After an all night rain, chilly and windy conditions Saturday morning set the stage for the Greater Western Ohio Conference Cross County Championships at Northmont High School.
Northmont’s girls team placed fourth in the eight team field while boys team placed fifth.
Freshman Makenna Long led the Lady Bolts by placing 4th in 19:25.63. Mia Fry of Centerville took 1st place in 18:58.97.
Other Lady Bolts were Jazlen Simpson finishing 16th (20:53.38), Amelia Brown 20th (21:16.27), Addison Brown 24th (21:31.71), Briana Pressel 27th (21:40.44), Lilia Lopez 36th (22:43.14), and Libbi Mergler 38th (22:54.77).
“The girls team did an excellent job,” said Northmont coach Joe Barnes. “I told them at the start of the race that ‘we are going to experiment today, and my four, five and six girls, you’re going to go up there and be with my number three girl to see where you get.’ Sure enough, that’s exactly what happened.
“We packed up and we beat Miamisburg, which I wasn’t expecting,” Barnes added. “By beating Miamisburg, we are looking pretty strong for next week to qualify out of district to regional.”
Boys results
Freshman Dominic Lopez was Northmont’s top male runner with a 7th place time 16:19.98. Kasim Kaheal of Miamisburg took 1st in 15:55.32.
Other Northmont runners were Daron Porter 13th (16:40.22), Owen Bush 30th (17:51.27), Grant Mergler 38th (18:45.21), Adam Wallace 44th (19:04.80), Jack Bradley 47th (19:40.10), and Matthew Helmick 49th (19:47.98).
“Individually, all the boys ran well,” Barnes said. “Today it was a tough course with a little bit of wind and the morning rain, that probably slowed down the course so I’m not too concerned about times today. It was all about placing and racing and the boys team did a great job.”
The district race will be held Saturday, at 9 a.m. at Cedarville University.
GWOC Cross Country
Championship Girls Scoring
Centerville 43
Beavercreek 56
Springboro 65
Northmont 91
Miamisburg 96
Fairmont 152
Springfield 220
Wayne xxx
Boys Scoring
Springboro 22
Centerville 50
Beavercreek 70
Miamisburg 95
Northmont 132
Wayne 148
Fairmont 183
Springfield 254
