OBETZ — Several runners from north central Ohio will compete in a familiar venue at the Cross Country State Championship Saturday at Fortress Obetz.
Colonel Crawford girls will be represented for the fourth straight year in Division III after qualifying at the Tiffin regional meet last weekend. Most of that team returns led by senior Cecelia “CiCi” Chase.
Chase was ninth (18:59.8) at the regional meet, with junior Gabby Roston 26th, sophomore Rylinn Edgington 66th, senior Izzy Roston 98th, sophomore Brynn Bruner 102nd and sophomore Lexi Dure 171st.
· The Lady Eagles squad placed third last season behind Minster and Fort Loramie. Division II competition starts at 10 a.m. for the girls and 10:40 a.m. for the boys.
· Also returning to Fort Obetz is Seneca East senior Lilly Schiefer after a courageous performance last season. Schiefer collapsed less than 50 yards from the finish line but crawled across it for 155th place in 22:49.8.
Schiefer qualified this fall with a time of 18:55.60.
· Crawford sophomore Shawn Auck is returning after qualifying as a freshman. He finished 24th on Saturday to secure an at-large bid, while junior Adam Scott placed 114th. Last fall Auck finished 44th in the boys meet, with a time of 16:57.6.
· Seneca East boys unit of Leo Schreiner, Brycen Lantz, Bradley Smith, Evan Schiefer, Owen Gahring and Nevin Holmes qualified. Lantz and Schreiner are seniors, Gahring, Smith and Schiefer are juniors and Holmes a sophomore.
· Galion girls placed eighth as a team with a 181, but freshman Makayla Halbisen qualified for state with a time of 19:21.00, which placed her eighth. Halbisen competes in Division III at noon. · Ticket information is available here: https://www.ohsaa.org/tickets
· Last year temperatures reached the high 70s. The forecast this Saturday is mid to high 50s under partly sunny skies.