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Salem, McDonald will defend titles
The Div. II and III district cross country meets will be run on Saturday.
BAZETTA — The Salem High School girls cross country team returns to defend its Division II title when the district cross country meet is held on Saturday at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds.
McDonald boys will defend their Div. III crown.
The Div. III boys run is set for 11:30 a.m., followed by the Div. II race. After that comes the girls Division II and III races.
The Quakers’ Lauren Shivers (19:25), Lexi Shivers (20:45), Bethany Huston (20:34) and Betsy Yuhaniak (21:25) are some of the area’s best runners.
Poland’s Anna Pompeo (19:59) and Meg Sweeney (20:46) will be in the field with Mooney’s Christina Oles (20:50).
For boys, Crestwood, last year’s champ, returns five veterans while Lakeview, which finished second in 2007, brings back Tyler Ames (15:59), Heath Harris (16:22) and Sam Jenkins (17:09).
Sean Murphy (17:09) of Poland will contend.
McDonald and Maplewood finished one-two a year ago, but the Blue Devils tuned up for the Div. III run as it won last week’s Sim Earich Invitational at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds.
Lance Ronghi (16:51), Jerry Dugan (16:58), Bobby Devita (17:10), Mitchell Thornton (17:24) and Josh Lapolla (17:28) are the returning McDonald veterans.
Maplewood will have Eric Rupe (16:40), Tom Bottorff (16:54) in the race.
In Div. III, Jackson-Milton’s Samantha Hamilton, Lowellville’s Monica Ciarniello and East Palestine’s Leighann Kelvingon placed second, third and fourth at the 2007 race.
Hamilton (19:16) and Ciarniello (19:16) share the top spot in the area’s best times and they have flipflopped winning some big invitational runs this season.
Berkshire’s young team returns to defend its title with Maplewood, McDonald, United and East Palestine strong challengers in the field of 25 schools. Maplewood’s Lisa Yoder (20:42) and Krystal Williams (21:18) will race against McDonald’s Paige Eckman (20:54) and Callie Garland (21:47).
Alos running will be Badger’s Sara Bodnar (20:50) and Kelvington (21:12).
Deskin to lead Boardman
CANTON — Last week’s Federal League championships at Massillon Perry High were won by the Perry boys and North Canton Hoover girls.
At Malone College Saturday, Hoover returns to defend both Div. I district titles.
A boys Div. III run will get under way at 11 a.m. followed by boys Div. II and I runs, then girls Div. III, II and I races.
Along with the favorite Perry boys team, Boardman, Canfield, Fitch and Howland will be in the field of 16 schools competing in the 5000-meter run.
The Spartans have Sam Deskin (16:11), Joe Stazak (16:49), twins Seth Westfall (16:54) and Ryan Westfall, and Eddie Adu-Poku (17:07).
Howland’s Aaron Sutton (16:45) and Fitch’s Josh McHenry (17:00) will contend.
The girls run will feature Hoover, which took the first five places at the FL meet. Boardman has Katie Heney (20:04), Lauren Agnew (20:16) and Kristie Stoll (20:43).
Canfield’s Nicole Tiberio (19:39) and Fitch’s Shannon Rech (20:43) are entered in the run.
Four Columbiana County teams — Columbiana, Leetonia, Lisbon and Southern — and Sebring will compete in the Div. III in a field of 24 girls teams.
Stephanie Case (19:50) of Columbiana, who was second in the 2007 run, will be among the top contenders.
Twenty schools are entered in the boys Div. III run with six of the top 11 2007 runners have graduated. Columbinana, Leetonia, Lison, Sebring and Southern will compete.