TIFFIN – In a cross country meet the size of the Tiffin Carnival, it can be easy to get lost in the shuffle.
Mackenzie Smith
McKela Elder
But that didn’t happen to McKela Elder and Mackenzie Smith
The Fremont Ross senior and freshman turned in fine performances Saturday afternoon in one of the state’s largest regular season races.
Running in the Division I-B race, Elder finished sixth overall, with a time of 19 minutes, 54 seconds, and Smith finished 18th, clocking 20:37.
“It was a nice race for both of them,” Ross coach John Elder said. “Our top five is coming along nicely.”
Rounding out the scoring for Ross, which finished 15th as team out of 28 teams, with 366, were Allison Taylor (63rd, 21:56), Nadia Kirksey (137th, 24:06) and Sarah Burciaga (143rd, 24:19).
The boys team placed 25th out of 34 team in the Division I-A race where the Little Giants were running against a crowded and fast field.
Ethan McClory turned in Ross’ best time, 16:59, and finished 65th overall. Zach Edmonds finished four seconds later and placed 70th.
“For the boys, the race was very competitive,” Elder said. “The top 10 in the A race were under 15:00. The boys were alright, but Zach and Ethan need to be faster. We think they can.”
Brayden Darr finished in 17:53, placing 140th, Isaias Ortiz was 171st in 18:11.1 and Jake Thompson rounded out the scoring by placing 201st overall in 18:38.2.
The Little Giants also ran a team in the Division I-B race where Trenton Ward finished 156th overall, in 19:12.6; Zach McNutt placed 167th in 19:22.6; Jewlius Pasch, finished 168th in, 19:23.1; Zach Glotzbecker, placed 191st in 19:50.7; and Aaron McNutt was 210th in 20:43.1.
After four-straight large meets to begin the season, the cross country teams travel next week to the Myron Cline Invitational, hosted by Lakota High School.
Tiffin Carnival
GIRLS
Division I-B Race
Team finish: Placed 15th, out of 28 teams, with 366 points.
Individual placers:
McKela Elder, sixth overall, 19:54.4
Mackenzie Smith, 18th overall, 20:37.8
Allison Taylor, 63rd overall, 21:56.4
Nadia Kirksey, 137th overall, 24:06.5
Sarah Burciaga, 143th overall, 24:19.4
McKenna Englund, 149th overall, 24:24.3 1
Grace Egbert, 166th overall, 25:01.4
BOYS
Division I-A Race
Team finish: Placed 25th, out of 34 teams, with 646 points
Individual placers:
Ethan McClory, 65th overall, 16:59.0
Zach Edmonds, 70th overall, 17:03.3
Brayden Darr, 140th overall, 17:53.7
Isaias Ortiz, 171st overall, 18:11.1
Jake Thompson, 201st overall, 18:38.2
Ivan Starkweather, 230th overall, 20:08.8
Evan Starkweather, 232nd overall, 20:20.7
Division I-B Race
Team finish: Placed 31st, out of 34 teams, with 892 points
Individual placers:
Trenton Ward, 156th overall, 19:12.6
Zach McNutt, 167th overall, 19:22.6
Jewlius Pasch, 168th overall, 19:23.1
Zach Glotzbecker, 191st overall, 19:50.7
Aaron McNutt, 210th overall, 20:43.1
Roman Contreras, 228th overall, 23:27.1