VW boys 3rd, girls 11th at Cincy CC meet

Van Wert cross country information

CINCINNATI — The Van Wert Cougar cross country teams officially started their season on Friday night at the Cincinnati Moeller Prime Time Invitational, under the lights at the Bruin Golf Center at Paramount’s Kings Island. Both Squads had a strong showing in the Division I heavy races.

The Cougar girls got the night kicked off with an 11th place showing out of 17 teams. The overall team champions were the ladies from Cincinnati St. Ursula Academy.  Leading the way once again was Andi Foster with an 11th place showing.  Foster was followed in by Jacey Eikenbary, 51st; Schelissa Williams, 55th; Meghan Barnhart, 74th; and Kelsey Wagner 96th.  Rounding out the top seven were Marissa Sperry, 110th; and Whitney Meyers, 111th.

“I thought the girls ran well this evening given the workload that they have put in the past few weeks,” said Van Wert Coach Brendon Moody. “We strive to race well each time out, but sometimes the volume of work we put in throughout the week catches up to us and I think that was what we experienced this evening.  A lot of dead legs.”

On the boys’ side, Van Wert finished in third place behind Division I powerhouse Cincinnati St. Xavier, and Cincinnati Turpin.  Jared Fleming paced the Cougar boys with a fourth place finish in a time of 16:16.

Kase Schalois was the second Cougar runner to cross the line at 16:26 and in seventh place.  Following Schalois was Conner Holliday, ninth; Jordan Butler, 45th; and Conner Shaffer, 46th; Spencer Prichard, 58th; and Nick Keber, 66th; rounded out the top seven for the boys.

“There were several places tonight where I thought we ran with a lack of confidence and heart,” Coach Moody noted. “We have high expectations and when you’re faced with the challenge of racing some of the best teams in Division I, an opportunity that we don’t get that often, you have to step up, and unfortunately, we didn’t do that this evening.

“It’s early in the year so we aren’t too worried, but it is something we take away from tonight’s race,” Coach Moody added.

Both Cougar cross country teams take to the course on Tuesday night at the Wayne Trace Invitational in Grover Hill.