PHOTO BY TOM LINDER
It was a total team effort when Brunswick's girls edged Beavercreek on Saturday in Hebron to win the OHSAA Division I state cross country championship.
HEBRON, Ohio – Loren McDaniel was a kindergartner running around Scioto Downs trying figure what the sport was all about when her brother Joe helped Brunswick win its last state cross country title back in 1999.
This time around, the Blue Devils senior helped her own team win the Division I state championship on Saturday.
No. 3-ranked Brunswick (113) pulled it off as it edged past No. 2 Beavercreek (118) and top-rated Mason (118). The Beavers and the Comets both led the Blue Devils through the first three runners before Brunswick rallied to win it at National Trail Raceway.
McDaniel led Brunswick as she finished 23rd overall in 18:47.66.
“We first got the unofficial word that we had won from our athletic director Pete DeMonte,” said McDaniel, holding the team’s championship trophy. “Two minutes later, our coach (Kerry Hunter) gave us the official word.
“It was just such a cool feeling on the awards stand. We were just squeezing each other’s hands so tight because we didn’t know what else to do. I shed a few tears. My legs were shaking at the end. It was very emotional.”
Sophomore Kristine Camper (36th, 19:32.02), senior Selena Pasadyn (52nd, 19:20.22), senior Alexis Uber (62nd, 19:30.39) and sophomore Tara Horton (76th, 19:41.83) rounded out the top five.
“We thought about the possibilities (of winning),” said Hunter. “We weren’t focusing on uniforms. A lot of the teams here we just don’t know because we don’t see them during the season. Obviously, my kids had a great day. This feels just as good as 1999. No doubt. I still get goose bumps. It’s just as good.”
Last year, Mason was second at the state classic, and Brunswick was fifth. Beavercreek didn’t advance to state a year ago.
FOR COMPLETE OHSAA DIV. I GIRLS RESULTS, Click HERE
No. 8 Dublin Coffman (101) stunned the Division I boys field. No. 1 St. Ignatius (120) and No. 2 Walsh Jesuit (128) rounded out the top three. Coffman was only second at the Pickerington regional a week ago.
Senior Tony Howkins led Walsh Jesuit as he earned All-Ohio (top 25) with an eighth-place finish (15:41.69). Warrior team Matt Krakora (13th, 15:43.79) also was all-state.
“I wasn’t sure where I was in the team race (second place) but I wanted to make sure I was up there,” said Howkins. “I gave it my all. I’m pretty happy with that.”
Copley senior Nick Pupino had a huge day on the new state meet course with a fourth-place time of 15:27.65. It was a 22-second personal record for the Indians runner.
“It’s a pretty awesome course,” said Pupino. “It was a pretty fast start, but I expected it going in. I noticed in the other races that a lot of runners were going out fast and dying hard. I went through the mile at 4:53. That was a good start for me. I just tried to push it from there. Last year I was 28th so I’m very happy with the improvement.”
FOR COMPLETE OHSAA DIV. I BOYS RESULTS, Click HERE
Medina senior Anna Boyert finished fourth for the second straight year in the Division I girls race (18:12.49). Solon junior Therese Haiss was fifth (18:18.27).
“I led for most of the race,” said Boyert. “I hadn’t done it this year yet so it was cool to get out, to do it, have fun and give it my best. I’m happy with how I did.”
“I went out faster than I really wanted to,” said Haiss, a two-time state qualifier. “The pace was really quick. The first mile was 5:30-5:35. It was very fast, but it’s the state meet.”
Hudson placed ninth as a team with junior Caroline Sauers (30th overall) leading the Explorers.
Cincinnati Princeton senior Claudia Saunders (18:04.50), Rocky River senior Elyse Bierut (18:08.46) and Beavercreek junior Sydney Leiher (18:10.21) grabbed the first three spots. Green senior Krista Roehling (21st, 18:46.48), Wadsworth senior Paige Szabat (22nd, 18:46.70) and Firestone senior Sarah Meek (24th) were other local runners to earn All-Ohio in Division I.