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Thursday, Mar. 28, 2024

VW boys’ CC team 3rd at Michigan meet

Van Wert cross country news

OTSEGO, Mich. — The Van Wert Cougar cross country teams traveled north this past weekend to Otsego, Mich., to compete in the highly competitive Otsego Bulldog Invitational.

Van Wert's Daniel Perry runs in the meet at Otsego, Mich. (photo by Monica Campbell for the Van Wert independent)
Van Wert’s Daniel Perry runs in the meet at Otsego, Mich. (photo by Monica Campbell for the Van Wert independent)

While neither squad walked away with a win, both teams were rewarded with many lifetime best times in the Division I-heavy race.

Led by a fourth place finish by junior Connor Holliday (16:25), the Cougar boys garnered a third place team finish, just two points behind second place Caledonia. The next Cougar harrier to cross the line was junior Connor Schaffer (16:43) in ninth place. Junior Daniel Perry (17:01) was 15th, junior Jordan Butler (17:07) finished 18th, and sophomore Cade Fleming (17:09 was 20th, to round out the top five.  Junior Nick Keber (21st, 17:12) and junior Ryan Rice (39th, 17:44) completed the varsity squad.

Also competing on Saturday in the junior varsity race was senior Eric Easley (18:01), who finished in fourth place.

In girls’ action, Van Wert had a strong pack, led by senior team captain Andi Foster (21st, in 19:39), senior Amanda Clay (27th in 19:54), sophomore (31st in 20:01), and junior Schealissa Williams (35th, 20:11). Sophomore Megan Barnhart (61st, 21:04), freshman Natalie Riethman (70th, 21:30), and junior Whitney Meyers (82nd in 22:36) rounded out the varsity girls squad.

The lone junior varsity runner, Alicia Danylchuck, finished a respectable 23rd in 22:23.

“The team looks forward to this overnight trip, as it serves as a dry run for what can lie ahead during the tournament trail if we advance on out of regionals,” said Head Coach Brendon Moody. “We like this meet because we never race any of these teams: they don’t know us, we don’t know them; it really lets us focus on racing and not on what other people are doing.”

The Cougars will be back in action on Thursday evening at the Coldwater Lions Invitational at Coldwater Cavalier Stadium.

POSTED: 09/30/13 at 5:56 am. FILED UNDER: Sports