Sunday, October 31, 1999

Hopewell-Loudon girls 2nd at regional

By Ed Fox
Sports Writer

It's been a week of firsts for the Hopewell-Loudon girls.

First, the Chieftains made their first-ever appearance in the state's top 10 with a No. 10 ranking in the final Division III state poll.

Then, they capped off the week with a runner-up finish in the Division III Regional at Hedges-Boyer, becoming the first H-L cross country team (boys or girls) to ever qualify for the state meet to be held at Scioto Downs Race Track this Saturday.

"All of the girls had big drops in their times," said Hopewell-Loudon head coach Paul Jones. "I told the top four girls that it was important for them to stay in touch with each other during the race and they did a great job."

The Chieftains finished with 75 points, just two back of perennial state power and No. 1-ranked Liberty-Benton which won with 73. Woodmore (81) and Seneca East (114) also earned a state berth while finishing third and fourth respectively.

Along with the top four teams, other individuals advancing on to state after finishing in the top 15 were junior Nichole Mathews of Cardinal Stritch, senior Erin McFadden of Norwalk St. Paul, sophomore Holly Kiser of Elmwood, junior Katharine Shelley of Maumee Valley Country Day, junior Karen Siefert of Buckeye Central, sophomore Jessica Sauder of Archbold and freshman Amy Renner of Huron.

Freshman Amy Jacobs led Hopewell-Loudon with second overall in 19:56, trailing champion Julie Pitney of Liberty-Benton who won in 19:18.

The Chieftains also had freshman Nikki Jones seventh in 20:11 while sophomore Rachel Hoover, a state participant last year, was 10th in 20:18, senior Ashley Miller 24th in 20:55 and freshman Lindsay Dell was 46th in 21:45. Also, sophomore McKenzie Robbins was 80th in 22:49 and junior Holly Thom was 89th in 23:25.

"Amy really got out strong and both Nikki and Rachel were right there in sixth and seventh," said Jones. "We couldn't ask for more than to have three girls in the top 10 and four in the top 20. We needed our fifth runner to come through and Lindsay really did it. The girls have got out well in most races this season and that was the same today. Amy had a PR and was in the 19s for the first time after Rachel and Nikki hit the 19s last week. Rachel was our only runner in the 19s all of last year."

Seneca East, ranked third in the final state poll, qualified to state for a sixth straight year.

The Tigers, who won the title a year ago, were led by sophomore Kristen Elmlinger in 15th with 20:25 while sophomore Jennifer Riddlebaugh was 22nd in 20:50, junior Jennifer Niedermier was 31st in 21:07, senior Sarah Reiter was 32nd in 21:11 and junior Brandi Hines was 33rd in 21:12. Also, sophomore Stephanie Phillips was 55th in 22:07 and freshman Jackie Kessler was 56th in 22:08.

"We just didn't run well. We were bunched together but not where we should have been," said Seneca East head coach Jeff Phillips. "We just don't have that lead runner like we've had in the past and anything we do, we have to do it as a team and not individuals. We just didn't get the job done today but we live on for another week and hope the girls come back with a good effort next week.

"Elmlinger had a drop of 31 seconds from the Carnival and Hines had a drop of 18 seconds but they were the only two girls who ran faster. We packed well, we just have to move it up some next week."

St. Wendelin was 12th in the 16-team field with 298 points.

Sophomore Jolene Faeth was the first runner for the Mohawks in 43rd with 21:38 while sophomore Jenni Yost was 52nd in 21:59, freshman Randi Jo Wireman was 60th in 22;12, junior Sara Dotson was 88th in 23:24 and junior Sybil Wireman was 100th in 24:05 and senior Jackie Bouillon was 111th in 25:24.

"The girls just weren't mentally in it like they were last week," said St. Wendelin mentor Brian Rosendale. "They went into the district meet all pumped up because they figured they had a chance to get out. They just didn't have that same approach this week. Yost ran with a lot of heart and the good thing is that all of them are back. They just have to learn to compete."

Two area individuals running in the meet were Lakota freshman Rachel Munoz in 34th with 21:13 and Carey freshman Alicia Derr in 59th with 22:11.