CONNERSVILLE, Ind. – The Hagerstown boys claimed the team championship for the third year in a row during Saturday’s Cross Country Sectional at Connersville High School.
“Overall, it was a very solid performance,” Hagerstown coach Kent Gray said. “I told the guys we didn’t have to be spectacular today.”
“We just had to run a solid race,” Gray added. “We wanted five in the top 10 and didn’t quite make that, but we were close.”
Hagerstown’s Mason Bledsoe survived an early mistake to win the individual championship for the boys in 17:30.3.
“I made a wrong turn,” said Bledsoe, who won the Tri-Eastern Conference individual crown a week ago. “I was mad and I wanted to get back up there. I was expecting to win and then I made that wrong turn. I got really nervous for a bit, but this is probably my proudest moment in cross country. It cost me about 20-25 places that I had to make up.”
The Hagerstown runners following Bledsoe in the top 10 were Alec Hicks in third, Kaleb Slagle in fifth and Logan Tuttle in seventh.
The Tigers finished with 28 points. Northeastern was fourth with 129, while Lincoln was fifth as the Golden Eagles were the last team to qualify for next Saturday’s regional at Rushville with 137 points.
Northeastern’s Quinton West was second overall and was the only other TEC runner in the top 10.
Union County’s girls finished second to Rushville, which had 33 points with the Patriots finishing with 65.
“It was a good day overall and good to move on,” Union County coach Alan Bell said. “We didn’t run as well as we hoped to. We’ll do better next week. We’re glad to have another chance.”
Hagerstown advanced to the regional for the 10th straight year as the Tigers had 102 points. Centerville was the final team to advance with 123 points as the Bulldogs made their fifth straight regional.
Samantha Crowe of Union County was second and her teammate Samantha Ramey was fifth. Hagerstown’s Logan McRoberts was ninth.
The were a total of four runners who advanced to the regional as individuals because they were among the top 10 finishers on non-qualifying teams.
Union County’s Dylan Poe and Centerville’s Parker Jaynes made it for the boys. On the girls side, Tri’s Bayleigh Appleby and Molly West both moved on to the regional.
Boys Team Results – 1. Hagerstown 28; 2. New Castle 77; 3. Rushville 82; 4. Northeastern 129; 5. Lincoln 137; 6. Richmond 151; 7. Franklin County 164; 8. Connersville 193; 9. Centerville 239; 10. Knightstown 269; 11. Tri High 336.
Boys Individual Results
1. Hagerstown (28) – 1. Mason Bledsoe; 3. Alec Hicks; 5. Kaleb Slagle; 7. Logan Tuttle; 12. Jevon Osborne; 25. Jared Weesner; 27. Michael Bane.
4. Northeastern (129) – 2. Quinton West; 16. Gabe Beatty; 22. Caylor Fisher; 43. Garrett Abney-Booker; 46. Jacob Bartram; 55. Bailey Moistner; 66. Donovan Brown.
5. Lincoln (137) – 11. Austin Wampler; 23. James Pugh; 31. Dylan McCullum; 32. Payton McGriff; 40. Hunter Brown; 48. Brent Myers; 52. Jimmy Huntsman.
9. Centerville (239) – 30. Parker Jaynes; 42. Ben Nevels; 47. Brady Day; 57. Seth Stegall; 63. Parker Neher; 65. Jeremy Dickerson; 67. Jake Newland.
11. Tri (336) – 61. Griffin Jessup; 64. Gary Roberts; 68. Sergio Goff; 70 Will Burgess; 73. Guillem Salva.
Union County (NS) – 21. Dylan Poe; 44. Russ Hensley; 65. Noah Migoski; 67. Levi Logue.
Girls Team Results – 1. Rushville 33; 2. Union County 65; 3. Seton Catholic 100; 4. Hagerstown 102; 5. Centerville 123; 6. New Castle 136; 7. Connersville 164; 8. Franklin County 191; 9. Richmond 224.
Girls Individual Results
2. Union County (65) – 2. Smamantha Crowe; 5. Samanatha Ramey; 11. Anevay Antrim; 22. Alyssa West; 25. Emma Cannon; 36. Nora West; 42. Zoe Murphy.
4. Hagerstown (102) – 9. Logan McRoberts; 14. Emily Dick; 18. Anna Shafer; 28. Madison Brown; 33. Maci Matanich; 37. Teresa Rojas; 40. Hannah Lach.
5. Centerville (123) – 15. Kayla Newman; 17. Kailee Tedder; 20. Baylee Fry; 24. Madeline Steinfort; 47. Molly Coomes; 50. Angela Boswell; 56. Savanna Dixon.
Lincoln (NS) – 54. Emily Powers; 55. Alyssa Harris; 66. Ryanne Davis; 72. Montana Maiden.
Northeastern (NS) – 52. Kennedy Villanueva; 67. Maria Vandevord; 68. Maddie May.
Tri (NS) – 13. Bayleigh Appleby; 18. Molly West; 48. Lauren Bouslog.