CROSS COUNTRY
Lancaster girls: The Lady Gales traveled to Centerville for the Saturday Night Lights Invitational Saturday. In the Championship Race, the Gales took third out of 17 teams. Harper Allen led the team with a second-place finish. Brooke Derringer followed in 16th place. Amelia Fries and Hadley Allen packed up and took 31st and 32nd place. Lindy Neeley came in at 62nd, followed by Lily Carpico in 71st and Katie Coy in 85th.
In the Gold Varsity Race, the Gales were led by Alyssa Johnson in 48th place and Ava Zeiders in 60th. Rounding out the scoring were Morgan Johnson in 78th, Alia Hopple in 82nd and JaciLynn Sark in 83rd.
In the Open Race, the Gales were fourth out of 22 teams. Callie Kretzmann led the Gales with a 14th-place finish. Brenna Jarrett followed in 27th, Paige Archer in 30th, Annabelle Walter in 36th, Amelia Walter in 50th, Chelsea Petersen in 89th, Zoe Fullen in 140th and Taylor Mathias in 157th.
In the 9/10 3200 race, Addi Stratton led the Gales with an 18th-place finish. Julie Rudduck and Leigh-Ellen Fullen followed in 25th and 26th, respectively. The Gales had 10 PR’s set for the day.
Lancaster boys: Lancaster opened the 2025 season racing at the Nike “Saturday Night Lights” event hosted by Centerville High School. Twenty-nine (29) Gales competed in four divisions: Championship, Varsity Gold, Open 5000M and Fr/So 3200M.
Brock Jarrett led the Gales to a ninth-place finish in the Championship Division, fifth among Ohio Division I teams. Gabe McNeil made his cross country debut as the second Gales finisher, followed by Talan Carter, Holden Riggs and Kaden Keller. Keller was racing in his first cross country event. Braden Wheeler and Owen McFarland led the Gales to a 10th-place finish in the Varsity Gold Division. Twelve (12) Lancaster runners set new personal bests.
Liberty Union: The Liberty Union Cross Country teams competed at Newark Catholic’s Run the Du Invitational Saturday. The girls team placed ninth and was led by Rachel Sponseller (26th, 22:24). She was followed by Elizabeth Conn (46th, 24:03), Caroline Endsley (64th, 24:31), Taylor Jones (64th, 25:32), Lily Endsley (70th, 26:12) and Kathleen Slaby (84th, 28:22). The boys team placed 10th and was led by William McCreery (21st, 17:51). He was followed by Charlie Sponseller (52nd, 19:43), Micah Fisher (65th, 20:56), Silas Kohler (85th, 22:36), Hunter Maddux (88th, 23:06) and Levi Hendershot (90th, 23:23).
The Lions began their season at Fisher Catholic’s Be Moore Invitational two-mile race Aug. 19. The girls team placed second and was led by Rachel Sponseller (4th, 15:16). She was followed by Elizabeth Conn (6th, 16:03), Caroline Endsley (7th, 16:03), Taylor Jones (12th, 16:49), Emily Shultz (13th, 17:03), Lily Endsley (17th, 18:38) Kathleen Slaby (21st, 20:08) and Alaina Brate (24th, 21:00). The boys team placed fourth and was led by William McCreery (4th, 11:45). He was followed by Charlie Sponseller (17th, 13:31), Micah Fisher (20th, 13:58), Silas Kohler (24th, 14:34) and Levi Hendershot (34th, 16:06).
Fisher Catholic: The Irish boys and girls participated in the Newark Catholic Invitational. The Irish boys placed seventh with a team score of 181 points while Watterson won the Meet, scoring 59 points. Leading the Irish was sophomore Corbin Stobart, who placed 11th (17:41.1). Other Irish runners were Landen Funk (15th, 17:44.3), Gordon Crabtree (33rd, 18:45.9), Reece Hagy (44th,19:16.4) and Wyatt Hillis (92nd, 24:16.8). The Irish Girls were led by junior Allie Krile (44th, 23:55.3) and freshman Stella Kohler (59th, 24:51.1). The Irish Girls did not field a team.
The Irish competed in the seventh Annual Be Moore Invitational at their home course. The Fisher Catholic boys won the event with 32 points, followed by Fairfield Christian Academy with 49 points. FCA senior McQueary won the Meet with a time of 11:08.26.
Leading the Irish Boys was the senior Duo of Roman Funk-2nd-11:15.1 and Landen Funk-5th-11:49.6. Other Irish Runners were sophomore Corbin Stobart (6th, 11:50.4), freshman Gordon Crabtree (8th, 12:12.7), Reece Hagy (11th, 12:36.8) and Wyatt Hillis (33rd, 16:06).
The Irish Girls placed third and scored 50 points and were led by junior Mary Grace Crabtree, who placed third with a time of 14:36.3. Other Irish runners were Eve Ohwoforworaye (8th,16:15), Allie Krile (9th,16:27.1), Stella Koehler (14th, 17:06.3) and Hanna Slaby (23rd, 20:41.8).
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: High School Sports Roundup: Area cross country teams putting their best foot forward
Reporting by Tom Wilson, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette / Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
