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Engel finished in 19 minutes, 23.9 seconds on the 3.1-mile course that featured some treacherous footing after heavy rain the past two weeks.
“It was definitely muddy but it was a good race,” Engel said. “(My goal) was just to have a fun time. Try my hardest.”
Engel wasn’t the only area runner to earn some more accolades Saturday. The Cedarville boys team made history with the program’s first appearance at state. It’s only the second time an Indians team competed at state in any sport, joining the 1945 baseball team.
“This was really big for the school as a whole,” Cedarville sophomore Ethan Wallis said. “It feels pretty good. History made. … “This is really good we got to go to state. Not everybody gets this opportunity.”
Wallis crossed the line 15 th overall to earn All-Ohio honors for finishing among the top 20.
“It was a good race. The course, since it keeps getting changed, we didn’t know really what we were getting into,” Wallis said of OHSAA officials rerouting the course Friday to avoid trouble spots. “It was muddy. Most of the time when you were running you were slipping and trying not to fall.”
In D-II boys, Shawnee’s boys finished eight overall but were just 16 points away from finishing among the top five. Senior Will Geist led the Braves in 31st.
Junior Alex Dyar (33), senior Keith Kaiser (47), senior Ethan Griffith (85), freshman Jordyn Dillavou (103), sophomore Noah Schafer (175) and senior Balin McGhee (177) also ran for the Braves.
Northwestern junior Drew Blazer finished 43rd.
In D-II girls, Shawnee finished 17th but had strong runs from freshman Audrey DeSantis (21) and junior Olivia Warax (29).
DeSantis missed breaking into the top 20 when she fell at the two-mile mark. Her spikes caught on a mat used to cover the pavement on the drag strip so runners can cross the strip. She was running eighth at the time.
“It took her a couple minutes to regain her composure,” Shawnee coach Brian DeSantis said. “She ran tough. She fought through it. … We’re proud of her tenacity to get back in it and keep fighting.”
Also running for the Braves were freshman Abigail Klemmensen (123), junior Madi Conley (139), junior Jessica Borders (170), freshman Tessa Holcomb (171) and freshman Ashton Thomas (176).
Also in D-II girls, Northwestern junior Kassidy Carpenter finished 49 th.
In girls D-III, West Liberty-Salem finished fourth. The Big Orange tied with Archbold for third but lost on a tie-breaker. They were five points from second place.
Freshman Megan Adams led the Big Orange in eighth. Sophomore Katelyn Stapleton (18), junior Grace Adams (56), junior Lydia Moell (65), sophomore Madison Bahan (67), sophomore Maria Henderson (135) and senior Mya King (155) also competed.
Among individuals, Catholic Central junior Bridget Engel finished 35th.
In D-III boys, West Liberty-Salem finished 13th with freshman Dylan Lauck (17), junior Noah Smith (72), freshman Tate Yoder (109), senior Jordan Lewis (123), junior Cade Clerico (146), sophomore Hayden Kennedy (167) and freshman Ayden Estep (177).
Cedarville finished 15th behind Wallis, sophomore Trent Koning (31), freshman Drew Mason (135), junior Isaiah Estepp (137), sophomore Payton Herron (142), sophomore Ben Kinsinger (164) and junior Jeffery Salisbury (168).
Greenon sophomore Gavin Patrick finished 18th and Northeastern senior Payton Chatfield 66th.
“Not a bad way to finish my career,” Chatfield said. “I was hoping for top 30. I know it was a bit of a long shot, but it was a good goal to try and reach. I’m glad that I did.”
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