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Regional X-C will feature several Mahoning Valley athletes
By Matthew Peaslee
YOUNGSTOWN
At many of the most prestigious cross country meets this year, South Range’s Tim Nichols has placed in the top-five.
His personal record in the 5000-meter run is a blistering 16:03 and he’s considered one of the most talented all-around competitors in the state.
Yet, Nichols is not yet pleased.
“It gets kind of frustrating when someone beats you,” he said. “I haven’t really won a race before.”
He’s not just talking about being the first crossing the finish line going up against opposing schools. No, Nichols is referring to virtually one other competitor, and it just so happens that he wears the maroon and gold too.
It’s South Range senior Ryan Roush.
Earning the nickname “Mighty Mouse,” Roush has consistently been the top area runner and is the reigning District, Suburban, county and Inter-Tri County League champion. Nichols has trailed Roush by just seconds in meets and is usually right behind him as the second to finish.
It’s far from a game of cat and mouse, though. They resemble each other way too much for that description. And, they’re happy to be working toward a common goal.
“Us being together all the time is pretty cool,” Nichols said. “It’d be pretty cool for Ryan and I to get first and second at state. That’s the best way to end this season.”
Another tandem sees working together as the best training grounds.
Ursuline’s Hannah Gerdes and Enya Hennings have advanced to the regional meet in Boardman also.
“It’s focus time,” Gerdes said. “All of the conditioning is already under our belt so we just have to prepare and maintain all we’ve worked on to do our best.”
Gerdes was the lone Irish runner to advance past district in 2010, so having a partner is something the senior says will be an added advantage over last year.
“I’m really excited to have another teammate to work with for the upcoming week,” she said. “It’s a goal for us to get to state and we’re going to be pushing each other at regional so that’s going to help us both.”
Gerdes, Nichols and Roush all ran in the regional meet in Boardman and advanced to state last year. This will be the first regional for Hennings, a sophomore.
“I’m really familiar with the course,” Gerdes said after running there a year ago and in a preseason meet. “It’s really exciting, fun and interesting so a lot will play into it.”
While the Ursuline girls didn’t qualify as a team, the South Range boys never had the opportunity. Aside from Nichols and Roush, only two other boys came out for the Raiders, keeping them from team eligibility.
“We’ve just had to make a name for ourselves,” Nichols said. “The further we go, the more people will recognize us.”