The OHSAA Cross Country State Meet showcased talent and determination as teams from across the region competed for top honors.
The West Liberty-Salem Girls Big Orange Cross Country Team finished 4th out of 183 runners in the Division 3 State Meet. Key finishers included:
- Malia Miller: 21st place, 18:53.19 (personal best; All-Ohio honors)
- Addi Wallen: 26th place, 18:58.84 (personal best; All-Ohio honors)
- Gwen McCullough: 39th place, 19:13.70 (personal best)
- Mariska Smith: 99th place, 20:27.69 (personal best)
- Isla Leichty: 114th place, 20:43.60
- Ivy Matthews: 137th place, 21:28.48 (personal best)
- Bella Hughes: 155th place, 22:01.19 (personal best)
Coach Lauck expressed immense pride in the team’s performance, noting their composure in high-stakes situations despite the absence of seniors and limited state experience.
“Their ability to stay relaxed and perform under pressure is extraordinary,” he said. “This is quite a capstone on a very successful season. I am excited to have all of them back next year!”
The girls had a solid start, navigating the tricky first turn of the race.
They moved up between the 800m and 1600m marks, showing remarkable determination.
“Although the weather contributed to faster times, their performances definitely show they were at their very best for state,” Lauck added.
The boys’ team also finished 4th at the OHSAA Division 2 State Championship, marking the best finish in school history. Standout performers included:
- Caleb Larson: 13th place, 15:41.35 (All-Ohio honors, school record, personal record)
- Asher Knox: 25th place, 15:46.17 (All-Ohio honors, personal record)
- Dylan King: 56th place, 16:12.10 (personal record)
- Asher Cole: 75th place, 16:22.17
- Brayan Gullett: 90th place, 16:31.42 (personal record)
- Troy Bradley: 130th place, 17:00.02 (personal record)
- Brevin Louden: 152nd place, 17:37.21
Coach Louden shared his excitement about the team’s consistent improvement throughout the season, stating, “I’m happy, ecstatic, and just overwhelmed with joy for the program today. These young men have continued to improve every single week all season long.”
He particularly praised Caleb Larson’s exceptional race: “Caleb meticulously moved up from 138th a quarter mile into the race to finish 13th, setting a new school record. His performance was one of the best I’ve witnessed as a coach.” Asher Knox’s back-to-back All-Ohio honors also stood out, alongside impressive finishes from the younger runners.
From Bellefontaine, junior Hayden Maus claimed the title of fastest Chieftain at the D2 state meet, finishing 15th with a time of 15:42.15.
This performance earned him All-State recognition and surpassed the 3rd placemark set by BHS career leader Aaron Augustus in 1993.
Sophomore Grace Brown also had a remarkable performance, breaking her school record with a 6th place finish in the D2 girls race at 18:24.8.
In addition to their athletic accomplishments, both Maus and Brown were recognized as Academic All-Ohio, showcasing their dedication both on the course and in the classroom.
