The Ohio Caverns XC Invitational held on Saturday showcased impressive performances from local high school cross-country teams, with standout finishes from both girls’ and boys’ squads.
Lady Raiders Finish 6th
The Lady Raider cross country team placed 6th out of 17 schools, demonstrating strong resilience on a challenging 3.1-mile course. Nora Elliott led the Raiders with a personal record (PR) time of 22:57, finishing 19th out of 92 runners. Gwendolyn Smith (23:46) and Estella Wenger (23:53) followed closely, finishing 25th and 26th, respectively. Other notable finishes included Hadley Boysel (35th, 24:11), Molly Siefring (36th, 24:12 – PR), and Lottie Bodin (37th, 24:14). Scarlett Elliott rounded out the scoring team in 42nd place (24:44).
The Raiders will compete next at the Indian Lake Invitational on Saturday, September 28, with the varsity girls’ race scheduled for 9:00 AM.
Chieftain Boys Take 3rd
The Bellefontaine Chieftain boys finished strong, securing 3rd place out of 13 teams. Hayden Maus was the star of the day, winning the race with an impressive time of 16:09. Other notable performances included Jake Moreland (10th, 17:31), Oliver Grandstaff (23rd, 18:01), and Elias Abrego (40th, 18:26). The team recorded three personal bests, showcasing their competitive spirit on a tough course.
“Outstanding race from Hayden. Winning at Ohio Caverns is always a nice accomplishment,” said the coaching staff.
Bellefontaine Girls Compete at Celtic Clash
The Bellefontaine Chieftain girls’ team faced stiff competition at the D1-heavy Celtic Clash held at Dublin Jerome High School. Sophomore Grace Brown led the team with an 11th place finish in the Varsity Gold race, clocking in at 18:39. Freshman Cece Reier also had a notable performance, setting a PR at 22:50. Despite a challenging week of illnesses and injuries, the girls demonstrated their determination.
Next, the Chieftain girls will compete at the Anna Rocket Invitational on October 5.
Big Orange Girls Dominate
The West Liberty-Salem Big Orange girls’ team celebrated a remarkable victory, finishing 1st out of 9 teams at the Ohio Caverns Invitational. Malia Miller led the pack, finishing 1st with a time of 19:35, followed by Gwen McCullough (2nd, 20:27) and Addi Wallen (3rd, 20:34). Coaches praised the team’s focus amidst homecoming festivities, highlighting the strong performance of Isla Leichty (13th, 22:12) and Mariska Smith (14th, 22:22) despite not feeling 100%.
The team will next compete at the Centerville Saturday Night Lights Meet.
West Liberty-Salem Boys Claim Victory
The West Liberty-Salem varsity boys, currently ranked #4 in the D2 OATCCC State Poll, won the 52nd Annual Max Evan’s Ohio Caverns Invitational convincingly. Caleb Larson finished 2nd with a time of 16:14.6, with strong performances from Asher Cole (3rd, 16:22.4) and Asher Knox (4th, 16:26.1). The team celebrated a total of six PRs, including a notable performance from freshman Adly Knox (14th, 17:46).
“Winning our home invitational was a main goal for the season, so to achieve that is very satisfying,” the coaches remarked. The team will prepare for next week’s Centerville SNL Invitational, where they will face some of the top teams in Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky.
The weekend’s events highlighted the competitive spirit and talent present in local cross-country programs, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.
