The top seven runners at the Preble County Cross Country Champships earned all-county honors. Pictured, 1. Samuel Dehart, TVS, 18:19.22. 2. Tucker Denlinger, NT, 18:20.30. 3. Jack Richardson, Eaton, 18:53.35. 4. Skyler Derksen, Eaton, 19:27.74. 5. Michael Fomin, Eaton, 19:36.53. 6. Tanner Davis, Eaton, 19:36.85. 7. Reed Daniels, Eaton, 19:37.29.
Submitted (Eaton Cross Country) | For The Register-Herald
EATON — Eaton hosted the 78th edition of the Preble County Cross Country Championships on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at Fort St. Clair Park.
The Eagles swept the boys and girls team titles, while Eaton’s Kyeleigh Gifford won the girls individual title and Twin Valley South’s Sam Dehart won the boys title.
“We had a great night for racing and a good number of spectators on hand to encourage the athletes,” Eaton coach Randy McKinney said. “Spectator support is always a positive for the athletes to start the season, especially the younger athletes that are likely experiencing a race for the first time. I want to thank all the schools for participating and continuing the tradition of the longest consecutive running county championship cross country meet in the State of Ohio.”
This year, runners ran Eaton’s course in reverse, and it turned out to be challenging.
“The high school reverse loop 5000-meter course was a little more challenging than I imagined it might be,” McKinney said. “A couple of my athletes said the rolling terrain was very challenging mentally and physically when running the course opposite of what you’re used to running. They were especially pleased that we cut out to 122 loop hill this early in the season.”
McKinney said he used this meet to gage where his teams were at this point in the season.
“I really had no concrete expectation for any of our athletes other than to compete and see where we are individually and as a team at this time,” he said. “Never having run the course, as we did, created a great early season challenge. I look at the meet as our starting point that each of our athletes use to help them understand what changes they need to make individually as we move forward with the 2024 season. The great thing is we turn around on Saturday and race again on what should prove to be a much easier course on which to compete.”
Eaton’s girls took the top seven spots.
“I’m really excited for Kyeleigh Gifford and Josie Eilerman who are bouncing back from their individual struggles of last season to place 1st and 2nd respectively in the meet,” McKinney said. “Our girls finished impressively taking all top 7 places in the meet to finish with a perfect score of 15 points. We have several individuals that are still getting into racing shape and several that are still learning about the sport and how to race. I look for the girls’ team to improve greatly as we progress through the 2024 season.”
On the boys’ side, Eaton had five of the top seven runners.
“On the boys’ side Jack Richardson stepped up to take the role of our number one runner/leader in the meet to place 3rd overall behind Samuel Dehart of Twin Valley South and Tucker Denlinger of National Trail who battled it out to place 1st and 2nd overall,” McKinney said. “Freshmen Skyler Derksen and Reed Daniels made their high school Cross Country debut by placing 4th and 7th overall respectively while Sophomore Michael Fomin and Senior Tanner Davis were with them to place 5th & 6th respectively. Our strength will be our pack this season which should improve as the guys individually progress this season.”
Girls’ results (Top 10): 1. Kyeleigh Gifford, Eaton, 21:57.63. 2. Josie Eilerman, Eaton, 22:18.77. 3. Emily Haynes, Eaton, 22:33.21. 4. Brynlee Hamilton, Eaton, 23:18.43. 5. Addison Guiley, Eaton, 23:24.43. 6. Elise Simmons, Eaton, 23:54.09. 7. Avery Bleil, Eaton, 24:17.83. 8. Hailey Turpin, TVS, 25:08.60. 9. Emma Pierce, Eaton, 25:19.63. 10. Maddison Moore, PS, 25:45.60.
Boys’ results (Top 10): 1. Samuel Dehart, TVS, 18:19.22. 2. Tucker Denlinger, NT, 18:20.30. 3. Jack Richardson, Eaton, 18:53.35. 4. Skyler Derksen, Eaton, 19:27.74. 5. Michael Fomin, Eaton, 19:36.53. 6. Tanner Davis, Eaton, 19:36.85. 7. Reed Daniels, Eaton, 19:37.29. 8. Dennis Hall, PS, 19:51.90. 9. Evan Shields, PS, 19:54.38. 10. Logan Mershon, TVS, 19:56.94.
Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on X @emowenjr.
