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Badger’s Stanhope wins state title
McDonald takes sixth in team competition
By BOB ETTINGER
HEBRON
Miranda Stanhope had a good feeling Saturday morning. That feeling only intensified in the moments immediately following the Badger junior’s victory in the Division III Ohio Cross Country Championships at National Trail Raceway.
“It didn’t sink in in the moment,” Stanhope said. “I was running it like it was just any other race. It wasn’t until I crossed the finish line that I started to get a little emotional.”
Stanhope outraced Emma Watcke of Minster over the final 200 meters to claim the win.
“I was trying to play it smart,” Stanhope said. “I knew the course had changed (for a third time before the races began on Saturday). I stretched longer (before the race). I wanted to keep a good form so I could stay strong and it ended well for me.”
Stanhope won in 18:51 while Watcke was second in 18:53.
“I think I really was thinking (I could win) right off the bat,” Stanhope said. “I felt really good today. I felt strong. In my mind, I felt I could win right at the start. At the mile, maybe mile and a half, I didn’t feel tired and that’s when I really started to think I could win. I stayed strong.”
Badger coach Carrie Albert had to take a moment to compose herself before talking about Stanhope’s performance.
“I’m overcome with happiness for her,” Albert said. “That was the goal she had all season. That’s what we do this for – to see the kids achieve their goals, whether it’s winning the state meet or getting a PR. I’m just really proud of her.”
The McDonald girls finished sixth in the Division III race with 217 points and Mineral Ridge was 17th with 414.
“Coach (Mike Richards) told us we were ranked ninth (before the meet),” McDonald’s Anna Guerra said. “He told us to keep climbing as far as we could get. We moved up a couple of places. I think he’s proud of us.”
Guerra was 14th in 19:50 to lead the Blue Devils.
“It was pretty rough, honestly,” Guerra said. “The wind was a big factor. Coach told us to draft somebody. I tried to hook onto a pack and they pulled me through.”
Sela Jones was 30th in 20:18, Bella Wolford was 55th in 20:50, Janessa Martinelli was 102nd in 21:48 and Sophie Klase was 127th in 22:28 for McDonald.
Hannah-Abigail Toth paced the Rams, placing 97th in 21:41.
In the Division II race, Poland’s Jackie Grisdale was 24th in 19:44 and her teammate, Halle Sebest, was 54th in 20:16.