Powell advances to Regional

By SCOTT BLACK

Enterprise sports writer

clydenews@bizwoh.rr.com

The boys and girls cross country teams traveled to Eells Park in Bettsville for the Division II District Cross Country Meet on Oct. 24.

The top four teams and the top 15 individual runners advanced to the regional in Tiffin next Saturday. Neither the boys or girls team advanced to the regional, but Gary Powell advanced as an individual for the boys.

The Fliers boys placed sixth with 140 points. Eastwood won the meet with 53 points. Lake was second with 87 points, Otsego was third at 97 and Tiffin Columbian was the fourth and last qualifying team at 106. Bellevue rounded out the top five with 115.

Gary Powell led the Fliers with an 11th place finish and a time of 17:37 to earn his trip to the regional meet. Isaac Bouyack was 20th with a time of 18:14. Tony Costantini was 27th at 18:32. Zach Prentice was 39th with a 18:46. Steve Cleveland was 48th at 19:25. Kenny Steinbauer was 51st with a time of 19:32 and Zach Sepeda was 65th with a time of 21:06.

"We had some fine efforts in a brutally cold district race," Coach Sonny Workman said. "Gary Powell led the way by placing 11th with a time of 17:37, which secured him a spot at next week's regional in Tiffin.

"Zach Prentice ran a personal best and Isaac Bouyack ran well after a season long injury that hampered his training. Zach Sepeda was very sick and we might have made it out as a team with a healthy Zach but that was not the case today," the coach added.

"I am proud and excited for Gary. He has worked so hard in practice. He will run Saturday at 2:05 p.m. at Hedges Boyer Park."

On the girls side, Oak Harbor won the district meet with 26 points. Maumee was second at 49 points, Bellevue was third with 117 points and Eastwood rounded out the top four moving on to the regional. Tiffin Columbian was fifth at 147. The Lady Fliers placed seventh with 167 points.

"We didn't finish as high as we would have wanted but the girls ran their best race of the year," Coach Ken Cheek said. "I told you at the beginning of the year we were going to finish the season where we should have started it and that's about what happened. I was still pretty well satisfied with them. Nobody laid down.

"They ran hard all season. I had six of the top seven girls PR Saturday. Taylor Ebert just missed the regional race by three places. Any time you can get six of seven girls running a personal record for you, you know that they didn't quit on you.

Taylor Ebert led the Lady Fliers by placing 19th with a time of 21:50. Rebecca Webb was 25th with a 22:22.

Tesla Lozier was 33rd at 22:49 and Leah Webb was 47th with a time of 23:55.

Laura Puffenberger was 50th at 24:30. Victoria Wobser was 58th at 26:05 and Brittany Cantrell was 61st at 27:24.