Lady Comets runners qualify for Regional run

A combination of mud, rain, and outstanding competition served to make the 2009 Northeast Ohio District Cross Country Meet one of the toughest races in the state.

The 16-team field included one nationally ranked and four state ranked squads, each fighting for one of six qualifying spots to next week's Regional Championships at Tiffin.

The Amherst girls cross country team put together one of their best races of the year, turning the tables on both the Avon Lake and Olmsted Falls teams that had finished ahead of them in the SWC Championships.

Nationally ranked Magnificat scored 22 points to lead Saturday's meet. In an incredibly tight race, Regional qualifiers Wadsworth (97 points), Brunswick (101 points), Medina (108 points), Amherst (115 points), and Avon Lake (127 points) all finished within 30 points of each other.

They were followed by Olmsted Falls (208), North Ridgeville (261), Wooster (269), Midview (294), Parma Padua (323), Cloverleaf (325), Medina Highland (339), and Elyria (364). Lorain Admiral King and Southview had incomplete teams.

Finishing first for the Comets in the District Meet was senior Erica Kelly (14th, 20:37), who improved nearly a minute over her time from the SWC meet.

Sophomore Sarah Walters (21st, 20:53) finished second for Amherst, followed by Ali Pittak (22nd, 20:55), and Abbie Hornyak (28th, 21:14).

Runner of the Week Kasey Schuler (30th, 21:22) overcame falling off the hill at LCCC, getting back up to finish in the Comet top five.

"I've never seen anything like it," Amherst coach Terry Kemp said. "Kasey was in the top 15, and just fell off the side of the hill. The important thing is that she was OK, but for her to get up - thorns and all - and finish well says a great deal."

Junior Devan Molnar (40th, 21:51) and freshman Emily Johnson (44th, 22:04) both finished well on Saturday, running solid races to finish as the Comet displacers.

The annual District Open Race provided the Amherst junior varsity with a great opportunity to compete. No scores were kept in the combined boys and girls meet.

Sophomore Nina Hill finished fourth overall (21:50), running an outstanding race to lead the Comet JV. Freshman Becki Stuckart (12th, 23:01) was next for Amherst, with Katie Sooy-Schultz (15th, 23:12), Heather Brosky (17th, 23:27), Katie Orseno (19th, 23:38), Amanda Wymer (20th, 23:45), Emma McGuire (22th, 23:50), Megan Borgsteadt (23th, 23:59) all finishing in the top 25 girls.

Junior Cami Forbush (36th, 24:41) also ran well for the Comets, followed by Alexandra Jones (38th, 24:43), Kelsey Anderson (42nd, 25:10), Julia Scrofano (43rd, 25:12), Natalie Swift (65th, 27:33), Lexie Jones (71st, 30:20), and Caitlin Fessler (72nd, 30:48).

The girls advance to the Tiffin Regional Meet this Saturday, with the top four teams and top 16 individuals qualifying to the State Meet. The Division 1 girls race will start at 12:35 p.m., with an open race being held at 3:45 p.m.