Cougar boys 3rd, girls 5th at Coldwater

Van Wert independent

COLDWATER — The Cougar harries were back in action Thursday evening at the Coldwater Lions Invitational for one last tune-up prior to the tournament season that begins next weekend.

The evening of great weather and great competition helped bolster the Cougar boys to a third place finish in the 20-team invitational.

Leading the way for the boys was junior Jared Fleming, who ran in a school record time of 15:58.50 for the 5,000 meter course.  Fleming’s effort was good enough for a third place finish.  Freshman Connor Holiday crossed the line next for the Cougars in fifth place (16:36), junior Kase Schalois, (13th in 16:51), senior Nathan Stevens, (33rd in 17:39), senior Luke Brubaker, (35th in 17:41), freshman Conner Shaffer (36th in 17:42), and Eric Easley (48th in 18:03), rounded out the Cougar varsity.

“This was the best team race for the boys, from our first to our last runner, since we opened up at Wayne Trace back in August,” said Van Wert Coach Brendon Moody. “It’s good to see them running fast as we head in to the WBL meet next week

“Third place, in a race of this caliber, with No. 2 state-ranked Coldwater and No. 6 Minster, and No. 8 St. Henry, is a good showing for us,” the Cougar coach added.

The girls cross country team finished fifth out of 14 teams in a race that showcased many of the top Division III girls’ teams in the state, with the likes of Coldwater, Versailles, and Minster getting the best of them, along with Western Buckeye League foe Lima Shawnee.

“Coldwater is always loaded with the MAC powerhouses and coming down here is a great gauge as we tune up for the WBL meet, but we know you have to be ready to race or you can leave pretty disappointed.” said Coach Moody. “We had several bright spots on the evening, but to let Shawnee slip in front of us by 11 points wasn’t the confidence booster we needed heading in to next week.”

Running in the varsity for the girls were Andi Foster (seventh in 19:56), Schelissa Williams (23rd in 20:52), Jacey Eikenbary (28th in 21:06), Erin Dingle (40th in 21:23), Sydney Riethman (44th in 21:21), Karlyn Koontz (56th in 21:55), and Whitney Myers (57th in 21:57).

Both teams will be back in action on Saturday, October 15, at the Hardin County Fairgrounds for the Western Buckeye League championship.