West Liberty-Salem cross country had a strong showing Saturday at the Columbus Grove Invitational, with the Tigers earning victories in both middle school races while the high school boys also captured the Red Division for the fourth consecutive year.
WEST LIBERTY-SALEM
High School Boys
The West Liberty-Salem boys cross country team, ranked No. 3 in this week’s Division III OATCCC State Poll, won the Red Division at the Columbus Grove Invitational for the fourth consecutive year.
The Tigers scored 103 points to finish ahead of Brayan with 108 and Division IV No. 1 Tinora with 109. Van Wert finished fourth with 122 points.
Junior Asher Cole led West Liberty-Salem with a second-place finish in 15:53.9, a season best. Junior Brayan Gullett placed sixth in 16:16.2, also recording a season best.
Owen Hardwick finished 16th in 17:06.2 with a personal record, followed by Eric Hoover in 37th at 17:46.6.
Freshman Milo Matthews placed 45th in 18:00.9 with a PR, while Gauge Lee finished 53rd in 18:14.1. Zeke Lauck was 69th in 18:32.2 with a PR.
West Liberty-Salem’s junior varsity team finished second in the JV race. Zeke Longshore led the JV runners with a second-place finish in 18:27.3, while Liam Harrington placed fifth in 18:59.1.
Danny Erne finished 20th, Zeke Sidders was 23rd, Walker Williams placed 25th with a PR, Isaiah Barth finished 40th with a PR, and Raylan Wulf was 49th. Connor Watson and Jude Roberts also competed and recorded PRs.
The varsity race featured 175 runners.
West Liberty-Salem improved to 37-2 on the season and extended its Columbus Grove Invitational meet record to 24-0.
“It was an excellent day for the program across the board despite wet, hot, and humid conditions. I was really proud of the way the guys battled the less than ideal conditions to come out on top against a solid field of quality state ranked teams from several divisions.”
— Head Coach Mike Louden
The Tigers will compete next Saturday, September 12, at the Piqua Night Race Invitational.
High School Girls
The West Liberty-Salem girls cross country team finished fifth out of 23 teams in the Gray Division at the Columbus Grove Invitational.
Fremont Ross won the team competition with 93 points, followed by Liberty Center with 104, Ottawa-Glandorf with 123 and Van Wert with 136. West Liberty-Salem scored 167 points to finish fifth.
Junior Isla Leichty led the Tigers with a seventh-place finish in 19:57.5, setting a personal best.
Junior Addi Wallen placed 10th in 20:18.7, while freshman Elin Leichty finished 15th in 20:35.5 with a PR.
Elia Matthews placed 55th in 22:11.2, followed by Charlee Albers in 86th at 23:13.0 with a season best.
Hattie Jacobs finished 99th in 23:46.1 with a season best, while Mia Dooley placed 113th in 24:20.7.
Emily Finch finished 140th in 25:51.6 with a personal best, and Olive Matthews placed 157th in 26:40.5, also recording a PR.
A total of 238 runners competed in the girls race.
The West Liberty-Salem girls will compete next Saturday at the Piqua Night Race Invitational.
Middle School Girls
The West Liberty-Salem girls finished first out of 21 teams with 32 points.
Minster was second with 85 points, followed by Anna with 93, Bryan with 193 and Liberty-Benton.
Nika Matthews led the Tigers with an individual victory, finishing first in 12:18.3.
Elayna Hoover placed second in 12:30.0, while Iris Meister finished eighth in 13:10.2 with a personal record.
Paisley Strapp was 10th in 13:17.7, and Neema Smucker placed 16th in 13:49.8 with a PR.
Ellie Louth finished 93rd in 16:13.5, followed by Kynslie McIntosh in 125th at 17:16.0.
Middle School Boys
The West Liberty-Salem boys also won their race, finishing first out of 12 teams with 27 points.
Genoa finished second with 111 points, followed by Ottawa with 124, Bryan with 130 and Van Wert with 154.
Caizon Anders captured the individual title for the Tigers, winning in 11:30.6.
Archer Anane-sefah finished fifth in 12:03.5 with a PR, followed by Joel Hoover in sixth at 12:06.5 with a PR.
Harrison Sutherin placed eighth in 12:01.2 with a PR, while Ozzy Anders was ninth in 12:21.0 with a PR.
Isaac Falloon finished 12th in 12:31.5 with a PR, and Cooper Thompson was 13th in 12:38.7.
Braxton Louden placed 15th in 12:42.1 with a PR.
Jack Troyer finished 33rd in 13:42.6 with a PR, followed by Jackson Barth in 34th at 13:42.7 and Mason Hinds in 36th at 13:44.0.
Jett Ziegler placed 55th in 14:20.0 with a PR, while Bryce Michael was 61st in 14:38.0.
Gabriel Wilson finished 75th in 15:46.7, followed by Jordan Griffith in 80th at 16:00.5 with a PR and Maddax Dobberstein in 81st at 16:00.8 with a PR.
Ayden Henson placed 93rd in 16:42.7 with a PR, and Josey Fullenkamp finished 98th in 17:06.9.
Both West Liberty-Salem middle school teams will compete this week at the Piqua Invitational.
