Monica Ciarniello's 3-time All-Ohio finisher in cross country

Lowellville's Monica Ciarnello

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As a seventh-grader in the Springfield Local district, Monica Ciarniello’s dad urged her to try out for cross country.

“I remember thinking he was crazy, but I dragged my two friends along so I would do it,” Ciarniello said of Amber Kennemer and Amanda Ortz.

Ernie Ciarniello’s reasoning was that cross country provided a vehicle to utilize his daughter’s capacity for concentration.

“Because there’s not much speed in the Ciarniello bloodline, I thought she should try a distance sport that requires endurance,” he said. “It’s very mental, so, her being intelligent, she should do well, which she has.”

Apparently, it was the right move. Her three straight All-Ohio finishes at the state cross country meet validate it.

As a freshman at Springfield, she finished 18th at state. She transferred to Lowellville for her sophomore season when she placed sixth. Last month, the 17-year-old finished fourth in the state Div. III meet at Scioto Downs in Columbus.

It represented the area’s best finish among girls and was the best-ever performance by a Lowellville cross country runner.

Her time of 18:58.24 was not a personal best. She attributes that to the weather.

“It was warmer than last year,” she said, comparing the temperature to when she ran her personal-best (18:53). “I run better in the cold.”

The winner was Barnesville’s Stephanie Morgan, defending champion.

“She was out of sight,” Ciarniello said. “It was a big honor just to run with her.”