Minerva High School’s boys and girls cross country teams were both victorious at Saturday’s Division II East District Cross Country Meet at Cambridge High School.
The Lions’ boys runner clocked out at an average of 17:21.64, while the girls posted an average of 19:56.69. Connor Shingleton was the boys’ meet’s individual district champion at a 15:54.91 total time.
“I just stuck to my plan. My strategy was to stay with the top group until two miles and, if I could, just take off,” said Shingleton after his race.
With state quickly approaching, Shingleton says he has his eyes set on the big prize.
“I have big goals. I’m not going down there to lose. I’m gonna try my best to win. Top ten, at least,” he said.
Minerva will be joined by John Glenn (2nd, 17:24.86 average), River View (3rd, 17:35.18), Indian Valley (4th, 18:15.06), St. Clairsville (5th, 18:26.55), and Cambridge (6th, 18:30.06) at the Regional Tournament at Pickerington.
“Connor…he just looked nice and smooth during the race. His plan was to just kind of hang there, and when felt the time to go, [he’d] go, and he looked great,” said Minerva head coach Olivia Scott about Connor Shingleton.
Meanwhile, the Minerva girls included five of the top six individuals, including Hera Hoffee (2nd, 19:30.55), Hannah Ison (3rd, 19:43.01), Jenna Cassidy (4th, 20:00.30), Caitlyn Hopple (5th, 20:09.88), and Kayla Crissman (20:19.73).
“I couldn’t have expected better…They’re just using each other every week. To go second through seventh place is pretty darn good, so we’re excited about that,” coach Scott said after the Lady Lions race.
Tuscarawas Valley’s Hannah Wyler was the girls’ top individual, at 18:56.36, as the Trojans finished 5th overall (22:26.01 average). The Lions and Trojans will be joined at regionals by West Holmes (2nd, 21:39.77 average), Sandy Valley (3rd, 21:54.09), John Glenn (4th, 22:10.35), Carrollton (6th, 22:41.56), Indian Valley (23:04.74), and Meadowbrook (8th, 23:20.85).
DIVISION III EAST DISTRICT MEET
Saturday’s Division III meet went to Garaway High School, which scored an average time of 17:57.51.
The Pirates had three runners inside the top ten: Quinten Schwartz (2nd, 16:53.79), Bobby Palmer (5th, 17:29.48), and Parker Graf (8th, 18:00.60).
The Pirates will be joined at next week’s regionals by Tuscarawas Valley (2nd, 18:26.82) and Barnesville (3rd, 18:31.10). Tuscarawas Central Catholic’s Jackson Triplett (16:36.93) won the individual honors, and will also advance.
On the girls’ side, Fort Frye (21:35.32 average), Caldwell (22:04.12), Barnesville (22:35.00), Garaway (22:52.75), and Buckeye Trail (23:36.32) all advanced to the regional round, with the Cadets’ Ava Huck finishing as the runner-up individual (20:24.76). Martins Ferry’s Josie Hancock won the individual race at 20:02.37.
Among other area qualifiers to the regionals was Strasburg’s Ella Pumphrey (11th individual, 21:49.16), Newcomerstown’s Caitlin Green (17th, 22:02.88), and Ridgewood’s Alaina Swiney (19th, 22:11.22).