The Minerva girls and boys cross-country teams are moving on to next week’s state championship race.
The girls team dominated the field, recording just 68 points, and winning the regional championship by over 30 points. Athens was second with 98 points.
Minerva’s Katie Ison was the first Lady Lion to cross the finish line; she did so in 19:06.21. Kayla Crissman placed 15th with a time of 19:34.59 followed by Annabelle Crissman with a time of 19:44.88.
Gabby Lupshu placed 21st with a time of 19:49.78 followed by Hannah Ison’s 25th place finished and time of 19:56.41.
Mackenzie Beavers finished 39th and Makenna Jones rounded out the Minerva runners with a 54th place finish.
As for the Minerva boys, they finished fifth to punch their ticket to the state tournament with 146 points.
Grasyn Rettig led the Lions with a time of 16:03.12, placing sixth. Rowen Hoffee finished 19th with a time of 16:20.42.
Mason Steele crossed the finish line in 16:41.02, placing 27th. Owen Yoder placed 37th with a time of 16:59.47 followed by Kaden Knappenberger with a time of 17:47.68 (90th). Ryan Cassidy followed with a 93rd-place finish and Jon Hopple placed 138th.
The qualifying runners will compete at the OHSAA state race on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park.