Cross Country regional roundup

TIFFIN — Van Wert’s Lauren Taylor was not going to be denied.

Last year, Taylor’s hopes of getting to the state cross country meet were dashed when she finished 27th. The top 16 placers at regionals qualify for the state meet.

At Saturday’s Division II regional meet at Tiffin, Taylor separated from the pack of runners early on and never looked back, en route to a first-place finish in 19 minutes, 8.78 seconds.

More importantly for Taylor, however, was the fact her team finished second and will advance to Saturday’s state meet at Scioto Downs in Columbus. The top four teams at regionals advance to state.

Shelby won the title, scoring 101 points, compared to Van Wert’s 116. Rocky River was third (118) while Coldwater advanced with a fourth-place finish (138).

Van Wert girls coach Brendon Moody said Taylor was focused on one thing — making state.

“It’s a lifelong thing, to train the way she does,” Moody said. “But, she’s been working specifically, since last November to make sure she got out (to the state meet).

“She also battled a lot of flu-like symptoms this week. So, to overcome this was very impressive on her part.”

Moody said he knew Saturday’s battle for the top four spots was going to be competitive.

“We knew it would be close, just like last week (at district),” Moody said. “(But) Shelby was a surprise. They put it all together today.”

Rounding out Van Wert’s scorers were Erica Davis (26th, 20:32), Jacey Eikenbary (33rd, 20:43), Erika Smith (37th, 20:47) and Katie Bono (46th, 21:00).

For Shawnee, two girls made it out of the Tiffin regional. Freshmen Adrienne Pohl (15th, 19:57) and Molly Scott (16th, 20:01) both advanced to the state meet with top-16 performances.

Other locals making it out of Tiffin included Celina’s Ashley Figel (ninth, 19:42).

On the boys’ side in D-II at Tiffin, Elyria Catholic won; Shawnee finished fifth as a team.

Individually, Celina’s Andrew Goodwin had the best local finish, coming in second (15:59). Shawnee’s Garrett Diltz finished 13th (16:39), while Van Wert’s Jared Fleming placed 15th (16:42), to advance to the state meet.

D-III TIFFIN

The Ottoville girls finished second to Liberty Center, 120-105.

Shayla Siefker led Ottoville with a first-place finish in 19:37. Pandora-Gilboa’s Sarah Flickinger made it out as an individual, finishing 11th (20:33).

In the boys’ D-III race, Coldwater’s Mike Seas (fourth, 16:29) and Lima Central Catholic’s Jim Kesner (11th, 17:01) both made it out with top-16 finishes.

D-III TROY

With No. 1 Minster going head-to-head with No. 2 Spencerville, Saturday’s D-III regional at Troy was a prelude to next weekend’s state meet.

Despite having just one runner in the top 16, Minster slipped past Spencerville, 86-102, for the team title.

Maria Dahlinghaus led Minster with a 16th place finish (20:21).

Spencerville placed two in the top 16. Lyndie Brown led the Bearcats in sixth (19:40), while Ashley Gilroy was 10th (20:03).

In the boys’ D-III race at Troy, St. Henry and New Bremen both advanced, finishing third and fourth, respectively.

New Bremen’s Justin Eilerman had the best local performance, finishing fourth (16:50).

Spencerville’s Jonathan Rex made it out as an individual, placing seventh (17:01).