BY JOHN URCHEK
Woodridge, St. Vincent-St. Mary and CVCA all qualified for next weekend's state meet in Columbus.
BOARDMAN – It was a back and forth battle. Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy landed the first strike, but the St. Vincent-St. Mary Lady Irish would not be denied.
For complete results through baumspage, click here: http://neohstrack.com/2009%20Regional%20CC/Results/D2%20Girls%20Boardman.htm
The Royals' Christina Blair won the individual crown. The junior finished in a time of 20:04.44, just ahead of St. Vincent-St. Mary’s Maria Arnone, who finished second.
Alas, Blair’s effort wasn’t enough to hold back the Irish who placed five runners in the top 16 of the Youngstown Division II Regional race. That group effort was something Irish coach Dan Lancianese was counting on.
“We talked today about staying strong in a pack,” Lancianese said. “In the end, we wound up with the better pack.”
Blair was happy with how the race turned out, despite not knowing what to expect from today’s race.
“I didn’t know what to feel headed into the race, but I knew I was mentally prepared to race today,” Blair said.
The regional win has Blair looking forward to next weekend’s challenge at the state meet in Columbus.
“A race like today keeps me mentally prepared. I know I’m ready physically and with the type of competition today I’m ready mentally as well,” Blair said.
Lancianese likes where his team is now with the win heading to the state meet.
“We are sitting in good shape. We have confidence in our conditioning and mindset, now it’s about executing,” Lancianese said.
Joining St. V-M and CVCA at Scioto Downs next Saturday will be Woodridge Bulldogs, who finished third as a team. Also making the trip to states will be Tallmadge’s Jaclyn Koza, who qualified as an individual with a 10th-place finish in 20:50.33.