Maplewood’s Shamrock blossoms on CC course

October 23, 2011 at 12:07a.m.

By matthew peaslee

cortland

In last year’s district cross country meet at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds, Maplewood’s Alanna Shamrock ran a first-place time of 19 minutes, 48 seconds.

This year, she dropped 21 seconds, but still had an identical result with an added incentive.

The Rockets won Saturday’s Division III meet with 54 points after a second-place finish in 2010.

“I pretty much just came out and ran with everything I had,” Shamrock said. “The team did, too, because everybody did great.”

Also going to Saturday’s regional meet at Boardman will be McDonald, South Range, Wickliffe and Badger from Div. III.

Advancing from Div. II are Poland, Southeast, Garfield and Struthers. The Bulldogs picked up 25 points, paced by McKinsie Klim with a winning time of 19:47.

Postseason success is nothing new to Shamrock and Maplewood. A junior, she has advanced to the regional all three years.

“If you look at her work effort and see how she practices, it’s second to none,” Maplewood coach Jillian Walters said. “She’s always pushing someone and trying to get the team together.”

It took some time to develop that leadership, though.

“When she was a freshman she was really shy and timid,” Walters said. “But, by the end of the year, she was the top runner on the team and that helped her break out of her shell.”

Shamrock says former Rocket standout Krystal Williams, now a freshman runner at Morehead State, was a big influence on her. Walters knew from day one that the coy newbie would development into a confident veteran.

“They were very similar in their running style and their work,” the coach said. “[Krystal] just pushed her and encouraged her to do more. Alanna kind of fed off her.”

Liberty’s Jonathon Richmond feeds off runners out of the maroon and gold.

He set a personal record by 20 seconds and came in second place of the boys Div. II race with a time of 17:04. He flirted with the lead for much of the race and traded the top, second and third spots with Jefferson’s David Chase and Lakeview’s Eric Harris. Chase eventually won with a 16:57, but Richmond held off Harris by 13 seconds.

“The whole time I was just trying to keep up with him,” Richmond said. “I love when people push me in the race. It was definitely the kids in front of me that helped me push.”

This will be the junior’s first trip to the regional meet. While qualifying for the state meet is on the road ahead, he wants to be in the fast lane for something more intimate.

“I just want to make sure I end the season under 17 [minutes,]” he said.

Chase’s Jefferson squad totaled 68 points and won the Div. II race. Lakeview, Southeast and Struthers advanced, as well.

Continuing their Div. III dominance, McDonald and Maplewood move on after getting 26 and 38 points, respectively.

Another one-two punch making a name for themselves is Ryan Roush and Tim Nichols of South Range. Crossing the finish line in that order of the Div. III race, they advance as individuals. Roush had a 15:57 time and Nichols was 16 minutes, 27 seconds.

“Us being together all year has been pretty cool,” Nichols said. “We’ve been through a lot together and we’re still ready to keep at it.”

Another individual tag team who made it to the regional is Ursuline’s Hannah Gerdes (21:30) and Enya Hennings (21:50).

“It’s really exciting,” Gerdes said. “I’m glad we get to work on it together because we both want us to get the best results.”