All-Ohio honors come home to area runners at OHSAA state cross country

OBETZ — The fourth time is a charm for Shelby's Anna Will.

After qualifying for the state cross country championships in each of the last three seasons, but coming up short in her quest for an All-Ohio honor, the senior accomplished the elusive goal when she finished 33 rd with a 19:29.2 to take second team All-Ohio honors.

"I am really happy about it," Will said. "Every year, I have come here with the goal of earning All-Ohio and I have never got it. Finally getting it my senior year and my last race in a Shelby jersey is thrilling and means so much to me. It is something I have been working for since I was a freshman."

Last week at the regional meet, Will got boxed in and while she still earned an individual qualifying spot, she felt like she was held back from running her absolute best. So, she changed her strategy at Saturday's Ohio High School Athletic Association State Cross Country Championships and sprinted off of the line to get ahead of the pack. It worked well for her as she built a big enough advantage to withstand some late kicks from fellow runners to secure an All-Ohio spot.

"It was definitely a tough race because you pretty much have to sprint right out of the gate," Will said. "I am the kind of racer who would rather get out in a good spot and fall back a little bit rather than sit back and try to move up later. Knowing I had to go out faster was the right move because it put me in a better spot."

As a freshman, Will was 71 st with a 20:07.3 before taking 48 th with a 19:10.39 as a sophomore and 59 th with a 19:32.04 last season. She finally broke through as a senior and will join the All-Ohio honors at Shelby High School.

"It is all thanks to my teammates and coaches," Will said. "I would not be here without their support and encouragement. When I fell short, I had several people there picking me back up. And I credit it to God. Every day, I wake up with the ability to run and I am so thankful for being given that ability and I am going to use it to glorify him."

Lexington's Gabi Twedt becomes two-time All-Ohioan

Lexington sophomore Gabi Twedt made it two-for-two in trips to the state championships and bringing home All-Ohio honors.

Twedt took 18 th overall with an 18:46.4 to earn a spot on the first team All-Ohio podium. She was 20 th last year with an 18:47.18 so she continued to improve while putting herself in position to be a four-time All-Ohioan by the time her career is over.

"It is really special," Twedt said. "Today didn't go as well as I had hoped; I was hoping for a faster time, but with the conditions and how fast we had to get out in the first 400 meters, I will take it. I gave it my absolute best today."

Battling the blustery cold, Twedt managed to stay warm on her run. She was sitting at the 4:15.8 mark a mile in as she set a solid pace for the day.

"In warmups, we were prepared for it to be even colder than what it was and we were layered up," Twedt said. "But once we got running, we realized it was pretty perfect running weather and we prefer this over really hot races."

Lady Lex took 16 th as a team with 346 points as senior Jenna Halfhill was 52 nd with a 19:18.0, senior Evalynn Adkins was 95 th with a 19:54.4, junior Adira Sharrock was 165 th with a 20:39.4 and freshman Nyra Loy was 168 th with a 20:39.4 to round out the Top 5 scoring runners. Freshman Brynlee Brokaw was 196 th with a 21:24.5 and sophomore Alexis Neal was 200 th with a 21:40.2 to round out the runners for Lex.

While it was a disappointing team finish, Lady Lex had a lot to be proud of this season after winning an Ohio Cardinal Conference championship and taking runner-up honors at the regional championships, all after losing three runners from last year's team that placed third in the state.

"We knew going into the season it wouldn't match last year with all of the talent we lost," Twedt said. "But going from where we were at the start of the season to where we are now is a huge jump in improvement. I am so proud of my teammates. Last week was the best we have performed all season and even though we weren't amazing today, I know each one of them brought it and gave it their best and that is really all that matters."

And Twedt vows to continue to bring it during the offseason as she gets set to try to become a three-time All-Ohioan next season.

"It's all about continuing to train," Twedt said. "I do not want to hit the junior slump that is prevalent in cross country, so I am going to do my best to keep training and be ready for track and next season."

Hicks, Strim, Rhein earn All-Ohio honors in Division IV boys race

New London junior Carter Hicks was the top area finisher in the Division IV boys race as he took 24 th with a 16:21.1 while Colonel Crawford's Isaac Stirm was 34 th with a 16:34.6 as both runners nabbed All-Ohio honors. Crestline's Colten Keller was 82 nd with a 17:09.8 and Crestview's Isaac McFarland was 88 th with a 17:12.6 to round out the individual performances.

Black River took 18 th as a team with 466 points. Senior Connor Rhein earned All-Ohio honors by taking 27 th with a 16:30.6 while freshman Jackson Quallish was 141 st with a 17:47.0, sophomore Archer Combs was 145th with a 17:53.5, sophomore Ray Brakefield was 153 rd with a 17:59.8 and Brock Martin took 204 th with a 19:36.8 to round out the Top 5 runners for the Pirates. Freshman Leland Gallatin was 206 th with a 19:45.7 and senior Logan Rhein was 212 th with a 21:40.6.

Crestline girls post strong showing in first state meet in program history; Smith runs well for Hillsdale in Division IV girls race

The Crestline girls cross country team made the first state championship meet appearance in program history on Saturday and took 21 st with 459 team points. Senior Nevaeh Hill was 54 th with a 19:44.3 while senior Addison Hill was 125 th with a 20:57.7, senior Jocelyn Noblit was 154 th with a 21:36.0, sophomore Lillian Mills was 161 st with a 21:53.0 and Addysen Giesige was 176 th with a 22:12.7 to round out the top 5 runners. Sophomore Anna Erwin was 195 th with a 23:25.6 and sophomore Faith Songer was 197 th with a 23:33.7 to round out the runners for Crestline.

Hillsdale's Kloe Smith took 79 th with a 20:10.9 to end her junior season on a high note at state.