HEBRON — While some area cross country teams came out of the National Trail Raceway starting gates running flat, and others were simply unable to overcome late-season injuries, the Xenia Christian girls contingent placed seventh in the state at Saturday’s cross country championships.

Rachel Sweeney turned in a personal-best time of 19:23.7 over the 5,000-meter (roughly 3.1-mile) distance to lead the Ambassadors with a 22nd-place finish.

Grace Norman finished 26th in her final high school cross country race. Norman was the first below-knee amputee to compete in the state championships last year as the result of the Xenia Christian team qualifying. She became the first to qualify on her own this year, after placing in the top 16 at the Troy regional. The future Team USA paralympian was all smiles after Saturday’s race.

Other area teams didn’t fare as well on the National Trail Raceway dragstrip grounds.

Beavercreek’s Aislinn Fitzgerald and Lauren Shuman finished 37th and 40th respectively, but the Beavers team placed 14th out of the 16 qualifying teams. Fitzgerald had the team’s best time with a 18:58.3 while Shuman was in at 19:01.8.

In boys action, Carroll’s harriers were hampered by injuries and finished the boys Division II race 14th out of 16. Karl Grossman was the Patriots’ top finisher at 34th place with a time of 16:31.9. Coach John Agnew was understandably proud of how far his team went this season.

“We’ve had illnesses and injuries all season long, and we just battled the whole time in order to get here,” Agnew said. “Getting here was a huge accomplishment. We’re regional runners-up and this is the 19th team Carroll has sent to state, so that’s big. The tradition continues.”

In the day’s final race, Beavercreek’s boys team ran flat. They finished 13th out of the 16 teams in Division I.

Junior speedster Ben Ewert placed 66th to lead the Beavers in a time of 16:23.9. Beavercreek coach Howard Russ said it was just one of them days.

“We came in here seeded 15th, and Ben was off today. We knew we’d have a top-10 if we had a good day,” Russ said. “Some guys ran close to their PRs (personal records), though. Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to those who ran well. Hopefully we’ll learn from this and be back and ready to go next year.”

Norman, Fitzgerald and Bethany Lassen of Beavercreek, Carroll runners Luke Danis, Nikhil Sample, Kevin Sheedy and Ryan Wuebben, and Beavercreek boys harriers Trevor Louis, Aaron Shepherd, Colin Staten, Raul Varas and Roberto Vargas all saw their senior cross country careers come to an end on Saturday.

The Beavercreek boys team gets off to a decent start during Saturday’s Division I championship cross country race at Hebron’s National Trail Raceway.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2015/11/web1_Bcreekboys.jpgThe Beavercreek boys team gets off to a decent start during Saturday’s Division I championship cross country race at Hebron’s National Trail Raceway.

Beavercreek girls Division I runners Lauren Shuman (612) and Aislinn Fitzgerald (607) and a slew of other runners cross National Trail Raceway’s dragstrip during the early going of the D-I girls cross country championship race, Saturday in Hebron. Fitzgerald led the Beavercreek runners with her 37th place finish; Shuman was 40th.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2015/11/web1_Bcreekgirls.jpgBeavercreek girls Division I runners Lauren Shuman (612) and Aislinn Fitzgerald (607) and a slew of other runners cross National Trail Raceway’s dragstrip during the early going of the D-I girls cross country championship race, Saturday in Hebron. Fitzgerald led the Beavercreek runners with her 37th place finish; Shuman was 40th.

Isaac Erlundson of Xenia Christian was the area’s only entrant in the Boys Division III race, Saturday in Hebron. The sophomore Ambassador finished 73rd in his first state championship.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2015/11/web1_Erlundson.jpgIsaac Erlundson of Xenia Christian was the area’s only entrant in the Boys Division III race, Saturday in Hebron. The sophomore Ambassador finished 73rd in his first state championship.

Carroll runner Karl Grossman (993) runs in a pack of Division II competitors as they head for the final turn in Saturday’s race at National Trail Raceway in Hebron.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2015/11/web1_Grossman.jpgCarroll runner Karl Grossman (993) runs in a pack of Division II competitors as they head for the final turn in Saturday’s race at National Trail Raceway in Hebron.

Xenia Christian runners Rachel Sweeney (204) and Grace Norman (203) head down the final straight, during Saturday’s Division III girls cross country championship race at National Trail Raceway in Hebron. Sweeney had the top finish among Greene County-area runners, finishing 22nd. Norman finished 26th.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2015/11/web1_SweenyNorman.jpgXenia Christian runners Rachel Sweeney (204) and Grace Norman (203) head down the final straight, during Saturday’s Division III girls cross country championship race at National Trail Raceway in Hebron. Sweeney had the top finish among Greene County-area runners, finishing 22nd. Norman finished 26th.

By John Bombatch

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John Bombatch can be reached at (937) 372-4444, Ext. 2123.