PICKERINGTON – Fredericktown has sent their girls cross country team to the state before, but on Oct. 31 they gained a state berth as a Division II team for the first time ever.
The Freddies finished seventh in the team standings at the OHSAA DII, Region 7 Championship at Pickerington High School North, making Fredericktown history.
The Freddies (260 points) were led by sophomore Elsa Hoam (20:06.5) who placed 19th.
“The beginning was kind of slow and everyone was boxed in for the first half mile,” Hoam said. “Then, around the first mile mark, I got into the top 20s, and I kind of stuck there a little bit, moving up and down. On the hills, it was a little hard and slow. Then, when we got down into the woods, I started passing girls.”
Other runners going to state for the Freddies are junior Natalie Vanmeter (53rd, 21:18.4), senior Macy Thorne (60th, 21:40.5), sophomore Sydney Wilson (73rd, 22:04.4) and freshman Kacie Rook (132nd, 24:09.9). Also running at state for Fredericktown are sophomore Destiny Blubaugh and junior Sadie Sanders.
With their performance, along with that of the boys earlier in the day, Fredericktown takes both teams to next Saturday’s state tournament.
“This is the fifth time in six years the girls are going to the state," Fredericktown coach Bob Geiger said. “The boys have been four years in a row— six out of the last seven. The kids don't realize how hard it is. They just expect they will go to the state every year.”
Highland junior Camberly Schade (17th, 20:00.3) was the top individual among the DII area runners to compete at Pickerington North.
“I started out fast because it was so muddy and you could get trapped so easily,” Schade said. “At about two kilometers in, it started to split up. Then it was easier to pass and move through everyone.”
In the Division III, Region 11 race earlier in the day, East Knox freshman Taylor Severt (20:27.1) finished in 16th place. It was the best finish among DIII area girls runners.
“I was really nervous the night before (the race),” Severt said. “I was thinking about what I was going to do and what was going to happen.”
Once she got going, it was a different story.
“I just went out and ran like I've been running and just paced myself and ran,” Severt said. “To go as a freshman means a lot. It's actually really surprising that I've made it this far. My teammates were with me. They didn't get to run with me but they cheered really hard.”
Right behind her was Centerburg junior Avery Tucker (17th, 20:27.9) and her teammate, junior Abigail Dickhof (19th, 20:29.9).
“All the girls converged and that made me a little nervous,” Tucker said. “Especially with that fast of a start."
Last year, both girls went as part of the Trojans’ team. This year, they are individual qualifiers.
“I love running with Avery because we both kind of run the same pace,” Dickhof said. “When I feel like I'm tired and hurting, she'll be right there. We just kind of run together and get through it.”
Later in the day, Mount Vernon’s Sophie Zoldak (13th, 19:43.2) qualified for state from Division I, Region 3.
