REGIONAL BOYS CROSS COUNTRY Armstrong runs to title

He led top-ranked Maplewood to the Division III regional championship.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Maplewood senior Derek Armstrong sported a sky blue uniform, a platinum blond hairstyle -- with sky blue highlights -- and, for good measure, a gold medal.
"We used to shave our heads, but I never did it," said Armstrong, who won Saturday's Division III regional title at Boardman High School with a time of 16 minutes, 39 seconds. "We were going to do [the highlights] at state, but I wanted to see what it would look like."
The hair was a matter of opinion. His performance was not.
Armstrong's finish led Maplewood, the state's top-ranked team, to the regional title, beating McDonald 27-61. South Range took third.
The top three teams and top 12 individuals not on a qualifying team advance to next week's state meet at Scioto Downs in Columbus.
Inboden second
Heritage Christian senior Brandon Inboden placed second on a windy rain-swept day.
"I let him break the wind [by staying behind him] and right when the wind stopped, I sprinted by him," Armstrong said. "I think it mentally destroyed him."
Junior Paul Moser finished third and senior John Palmer placed fourth as the Rockets defended their regional title.
Moser was the only Maplewood runner without blond hair. Come to think of it, he was the only Maplewood runner without any hair.
"It's about being a 'Maplewood Goon,' " Moser said with a laugh. "I wanted to be a Goon all four years and so I shaved my head. These pretty boys bleached their hair."
Maplewood finished behind McDonald for last year's state title and, with four seniors on this year's team, the Rockets will accept nothing less than first.
"It's all or nothing for us," Armstrong said.
Added Moser, "Anything else and we won't be satisfied."
Maplewood last won a state boys cross country title in 1997.
McDonald junior Joe Kunkel placed fifth, Jackson-Milton junior Luke McCluggage -- who won last week's district title -- placed sixth and Leetonia's Danny Simpson was seventh.
Division I-II
Mooney senior Erik Moss placed 11th in Div. II, East Palestine senior Aaron Allison -- last week's district winner -- placed 18th and Salem senior Shane Harding placed 20th to qualify for the state meet.
The top 20 runners not on a qualifying team advance.
"I'm very excited to be going," Moss said. "I missed making it all three years. Everyone went down last year [to watch Mooney's Joe Taylor], and watching it from the stands makes you want to run there."
Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary junior Matt Buzek won the individual title and Ashtabula Edgewood won the team title.
Hudson senior Wesley Smith placed first in the Div. I race. Wooster won the team title.
scalzo@vindy.com