FPS staff report
August 31, 2009
The Carrollton boys and girls cross country team opened their 2009 season on a wet and sloppy course at the Pickerington Invitational at Pickerington North High School last Saturday.
Both teams turned in strong performances. The girls placed fifth out of 22 teams with 157 points, while the boys placed seventh out of 18 teams with 205 points.
“After working so hard all summer the kids were itchy for their first competition,” said head coach Lisa Baker. “It rained hard late into Friday evening and the course got soupy for the races. The times were slower than last year, but many runners were satisfied with the places they earned.”
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| Kelsey Cogan |
In the girls race, sophomore Kelsey Cogan placed second overall with a time of 20:24.57, senior Katelyn Jacobson followed in 19th place with a time of 22:13.23, senior Mary Jo Brown finished 24th with a time of 22:30.92, senior Jasmine Bell finished 62nd with a time of 24:10, senior Lindsey Evans 66th with a time of 24:16, freshman Kailey Patterson 81st with a time of 24:40 and freshman Katerina Campbell 130th with a time of 25:55.
“Kelsey ran a strong, smart race,” noted Baker. “She paced herself in third place until the last mile when she overtook the runner in second place and put a considerable amount of space between herself and third place. Katelyn (Jacobson) and Mary Jo (Brown) ran a strong race, staying close to each other and pushing one another the whole race.”
Dublin Jerome took the team championship with 82 points. Kings was a distant second with 105, New Lexington third with 114 and Olentangy Orange fourth with 130.
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| Kyle Baker |
In the boys’ race, two Warriors placed in the top 20. Senior Kyle Baker placed 16th with a time of 19:01.31 and Joey Harter placed 17th with a time of 19:02.79.
“We were pleasantly surprised when newcomer, sophomore Joey Harter gave Kyle (Baker) a race to the finish,” Baker said. “Both athletes are incredibly competitive, so it is good that they can challenge each other.”
Freshman Travis Stephen placed 59th with a time of 20:35 and freshman Allen Jacobson placed 61st with a time of 20:40. Senior Brandon Walker finished 70th with a time of 20:59, Ethan Harris placed 82nd with a time of 21:11 and Brandon Burrier 95th with a time of 21:36.
Thomas Worthington won the team title with 71 points. Big Walnut was second with 80, Fairland third with 98 and Pickerington Central fourth with 150 points.
The Warriors will be at the Newcomerstown Invitational Saturday. Next week they will be at the Dover Invitational. On Sept. 19 they will compete in the Boardman Spartan Invitational at Boardman, On Sept. 26 they will be at the Sandy Valley Invitational. |