BY JOHN URCHEK
CVCA's Christina Blair hopes to lead the Royals to a state title Saturday.
SHARON CENTER – Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy won the OHSAA Division II girls cross country championship last year. Now, the Royals are in a position to defend that title. Led by juniors Christina Blair, who won the regional meet last week, and Joy Talbott, CVCA is currently the second-ranked team in the state.
The Royals are only ranked behind St. Vincent-St. Mary, which won the Youngstown regional ahead of CVCA. Blair thinks she is ready for the state meet, both mentally and physically after the tough regional race.
“I know I’m ready physically.” Blair said. “And with the type of competition I faced today, it gets me ready mentally.”
CVCA coach George Hallis agrees with Blair about herself and the team headed into the meet.
“She keeps looking stronger.” Hallis said of Blair. “It’s another week and one more race, hopefully we run even better.”
The Royals get tons of respect from other schools as well as the defending champions.
“CVCA is still a beast.” STVM coach Dan Lancianese said. “They are the ones everyone still has to get over.”
Lancianese is pleased with the progress of his program who he thinks is in a good place to accomplish one of their goals already.
“Our whole goal entering the season was to improve on last year’s seventh place finish.” Lancianese said.
The Irish and Royals have been running neck and neck all season and now it comes down to one final race at Scioto Downs in Columbus to see who will end on top. Also joining that field of 16 will be the Woodridge Bulldogs, who finished third in the Youngstown Regional.
Betting on Betts
In Division I, four local teams qualified for the state meet. Hudson, Green, Medina and Brunswick will all be fighting to win the team championship.
Also in the mix for the individual title are the Cuyahoga Falls duo of Kayleigh Scourfield and Allison Hainer, the Wadsworth duo of Paige Szabat and Nicole Cargill, and Stow’s Katie Betts.
After being the runner-up to Hudson’s Madison Hartline in the district race, Betts won at Youngstown and is confident she will do well in Columbus.
“Winning the regional definitely has given me more confidence.” Betts said. “I feel better every week.”
Betts is headed to Scioto Downs focused on a goal to accomplish.
“My goal is to make it to the podium.” Betts said.