The Switzerland County boys and girls varsity cross country teams served notice that they will be forces to be reckoned with this season during Tuesday night’s Pre-Conference meet at Hanover.
The boys team won the meet with a team score of 51; followed by South Ripley with 54; Southwestern with 72; Rising Sun with 72; and Jac-Cen-Del with 90. Milan and Madison Shawe did not have enough runners to have a team score.
Individually, junior Clay Meyer won the meet with a time of 18:24; while Corey McFarland was fourth overall in a time of 19:12. Tray Meyer was eighth in a time of 20:30.
Tanner Ross (22:16) finished 21st; Blake Whitham (23:23) was 27th; Zach O’Neal (23:33) was 29th; and Damon Robbins (30:11) was 47th.
“I am very proud of all of the boys efforts in the meet,” coach Mark Boggs said. “A few of the runners have been a little under the weather recently, however they put the team first and competed every step of the way.”
Coach Boggs noted that the boys team was without two of its top runners for the meet; as Josh Hon was ill and could not compete; while Bradlee Burk suffered a broken collarbone last week and cannot compete.
“Both runners have been very valuable to this team,” the coach said.
*
The girls team finished second overall in a very close meet.
Rising Sun won the girls title with a score of 41; followed by Switzerland County with 56 and South Ripley with 59. Jac-Cen-Del had 83 points; Milan had 96 points; and Madison Shawe and Southwestern neither had enough runners to record a team score.
Individually, Lady Pacer Amber Meli was third overall with a time of 23:42; Andrea Brogan was 14th in a time of 27:00; Maggie Armstrong was 15th in a time of 27:04; Shana Todd was 16th in a time of 27:15; Beth Abbott was 17th in a time of 27:27; and Catie Johnson was 36th in a time of 44:41.
“Amber ran an exceptional race,” Coach Boggs said. “But I’m just as proud of the other girls tonight. Our number two through five packed up and were within 27 seconds of each other.”