Gahanna's Shope wins Division I girls state cross country title; Coffman boys place second
Alyssa Shope didn’t physically feel at her best during the Division I state girls cross country meet Nov. 6 at Fortress Obetz, but the Gahanna Lincoln senior sported a huge smile as she crossed the finish line.
With a time of 17 minutes, 32.1 seconds, Shope became her team’s first individual state champion. She also won the state title in the 3,200 meters in track and field last spring.
“I was honestly feeling a little bit rough, but I had to keep focused and keep grinding because even when you’re not feeling your best, you have to do your best,” Shope said. “I’m happy I did my best. My best was winning today, so I’m pretty happy about that.”
Shope, who won all but three races in which she competed this fall, led a central Ohio contingent that also had four others finish in the top 20 to reach the awards podium.
Hilliard Davidson senior Alyssa Mason placed sixth (18:07.8) to help her team earn a fifth-place finish (194) behind champion Perrysburg (101).
Junior Dillon Sweetman was ninth (18:17.2) for the Wildcats, who led an area group that also included Dublin Coffman (14th, 290), Pickerington North (17th, 444), Big Walnut (19th, 501) and Olentangy Liberty (20th, 526).
“I got out higher than I expected, but it felt natural,” Mason said. “There was a lot of adrenaline kind of rolling with the punches. I feel like we learned from (finishing second as a team last week at regional).”
Also reaching the awards podium were Dublin Jerome freshman Millie Leonard (10th, 18:21.5) and Coffman junior Olivia Oiler (18th, 18:36.2).
“I’m a little disappointed with how I ran,” Leonard said. “It was definitely exciting. There were a lot of good runners here today.”
Dublin Coffman, Hilliard Davidson lead central Ohio boys in Division I
After finishing as the regional runner-up, Coffman scored 144 points to edge Davidson (145) for the state runner-up trophy behind Mason (106).
Junior Liam Shaughnessy led the Shamrocks with a fifth-place finish (15:24.8) as Morrow Little Miami’s William Zegarski won in a state-record 14:39.9.
“We came down to do what we know we can do, and that was giving everything we’ve got,” Shaughnessy said. “It was a good display of what we’ve worked for all season.”
Placing second was Davidson junior Connor Ackley (14:58.1), while senior teammate Nick Puhl was sixth (15:25.8).
“We put ourselves right where we needed to be,” Ackley said. “It was really fast. Going through the mile, that was the fastest I’ve ever gone. (Zegarski) was really cruising today and it really helped me run well, too.”
Olentangy Orange sophomore Saketh Rudraraju lost both of his shoes about 450 meters into the race but still managed to place 16th (15:39.2).
The other local teams were Jerome (17th, 324) and Worthington Kilbourne (18th, 345).
Watterson boys place fifth in Division II
After finishing 17th at state last season, Watterson came through with a fifth-place finish (216) as Alliance Marlington won the title with 77 points.
Eagles seniors Cris Kubatko and Max Latshaw believe they were around 30th place midway through the race before making their way toward the front.
Kubatko ended up 10th (16:00.3) and Latshaw was 11th (16:00.3) behind champion Jack Agnew (15:31.3) of Dayton Carroll.
“We were out of the top 20 at the 2-mile mark and we jumped back up into that,” Latshaw said. “It was worth the hard finish.”
Bexley finished 20th (380).
Bexley girls place 14th in Division II
Bexley finished 14th (289) behind champion Minerva (136) as senior Claire MacDonald led with a 41st-place finish (19:27.0).
Dayton Oakwood senior Grace Hartman ran 17:31.6 to earn her second consecutive state title after placing second during each of her first two prep seasons.
“I was happy with my race,” MacDonald said. “It was a good last one. I’m just sad that it’s over.”
MacDonald, a four-time state competitor, was followed by sophomore Addison Helon (71st, 20:00.4).
Grandview Heights’ Murphy reaches podium in Division III boys race
Grandview had a pair of competitors at state, including one who reached the awards podium in sophomore Denison Murphy.
After getting out to a fast start before slipping back and placing 54th at state last season, Murphy focused on running steadier splits and turned in a 16th-place finish (16:16.7) as Lima Perry’s Braden Yingst captured the title in 15:29.4.
“I felt good about it,” Murphy said. “They have a clock at the first 400 and I went out in 64 seconds and just died, so this year I wanted to come out a little more controlled and then let people just come back to me in the last mile.”
Grandview Heights girls compete in Division III
In the opening race of state, Grandview turned in its second consecutive 18th-place finish (395) behind champion Minster (66).
The Bobcats had just five competitors, with sophomore Maddie Palmisciano leading the way with a 36th-place finish (19:39.6) as Maplewood’s Caleigh Richards ran 18:16.2 to win her second consecutive title.
“I could have definitely competed harder, but I’m still really happy because last year I had a stress fracture and got 93rd,” Palmisciano said. “I managed to stay healthy this year.”
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This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Ohio high school cross country: Gahanna's Shope runs to title
