Knox County teams, runners advance to regional cross-country meet

Knox County high school cross-country runners showed up big time at the central district meet Oct. 17.

Mount Vernon, Centerburg and Fredericktown will send both its boys’ and girls’ teams to regionals, while East Knox and Danville will send several individuals after competing in the district event at Hilliard Darby. Regionals will be held Oct. 25 at Pickerington North.

This is the first time in school history that both Mount Vernon’s boys’ and girls’ teams qualified for regionals in the same season. The girls have been to regionals four times before this fall (2008, 2009, 2010 and 2022), while this will be the boys’ first trip as a team since 2006.

The Yellow Jacket girls finished sixth in Div. II to qualify. Lucy Rush was the district champion, finishing the course in 18:52.56. Nora de la Fuente Morcillo was 30th for MV in 23:25.80, followed by Amanda Misarti (35th, 24:01.81), Cora Stetler (43rd, 25:26.56) and Madison Seng (54th, 30:58.05). MV will run at 3:30 p.m. in regionals.

The boys also finished sixth to advance in Div. II. Calvin Heithaus was the first MV runner to finish, placing 11th in 17:19.67. Owen Petrie was close behind in 13th at 17:30.18, followed by Gavin Andrews (27th, 18:22.93), Brady Mills (33rd, 18:42.68), Anderson Seng (38th, 19:14.68), Nathan Jose (39th, 19:16.43) and Joey Butts (41st, 19:32.44). The boys will run at 4:10 p.m.

The Fredericktown girls captured a district title by winning the Div. III race. Peyton Blakesley was the top Freddie finisher, placing seventh in 22:00.23. Elizabeth Swartzentruber was close behind in ninth at 22:12.48, followed by Gwen Lavin (11th, 22:29.48), Sophia Overholt (12th, 22:41.72), Madi Shade (13th, 22:50.48), Ella Flynn (17th, 23:02.48) and Angelina Overholt (30th, 24:25.22). The girls will run in regionals at 11:50 a.m.

The Freddie boys finished fourth in Div. III to advance. Allen Swartzentruber was the top Freddie runner, placing 10th in 17:42.57. Lincoln Snyder was next in 15th at 18:08.83, followed by Darren Hartley (16th, 18:09.33), Trace Armstrong (18th, 18:21.07), Gideon Rashley (21st, 18:39.83), Anson Wenger (26th, 18:52.57) and Carter Budd (28th, 19:14.07). The Freddies will run at 12:30 p.m.

East Knox had two boys and two girls qualify for regional competition. Kaiden Clutter (14th, 18:15.25) and Lucas Holland (21st, 18:51.76) will both run in the Div. III race at 12:30 p.m. Zeke Proudfoot (27th, 19:16.27), Jacob Montera (41st, 21:32.75), Curtis Divan (43rd, 21:57.28) and Cale Brewer (47th, 23:39.00) also ran for the Bulldogs, which finished fifth in the Div. III district.

On the girls’ side, Cloe Tucker (16th, 23:40.65) and Macie Fawcett (18th, 24:05.89) qualified for regionals. They will run in the Div. IV race at 10 a.m. Kylie Barlock also ran at district for EK, finishing 42nd in 28:34.13.

In Division IV, Centerburg will be sending both teams to regionals after the boys finished second and the girls fourth.

Andrew Dickhof was the top Trojan runner, placing sixth in 17:14.31. Carter Netting was close behind in eighth at 17:41.05, followed by Corbin Netting (15th, 19:04.30), Noah Matthews (16th, 19:06.55), Lane Kloss (20th, 19:27.56), Sam Dickhof (25th, 19:50.30) and Mason Dawes (29th, 20:17.31). The boys will run at 10:40 a.m.

Payton Tucker also won a district title for the Lady Trojans, finishing the race in 19:53.41. Brianna Giehl was next in 13th at 23:28.64, followed by Audrey Garner (22nd, 24:33.15), Molly Henry (27th, 25:06.65), Ella Jackson (29th, 25:28.64), Claire Hill (39th, 27:56.64) and Merrideth Nash (40th, 28:16.89). Centerburg will run at 10 a.m. at regionals.

Danville also had one boy and one girl advance to regionals in Div. IV. Ethan Swendal made it after finishing 26th in 19:42.45. Johnny Stephens (34th, 20:45.67), Nick Mosher (35th, 20:55.94) and Evan Crider (38th, 21:38.43) also ran at district for the Devils.

Brooklyn Ashman is moving on after a 30th place finish in 24:27.39. Raegan Malone (42nd, 26:26.15), Gracie Lucas (46th, 27:02.65) and Hailey Colopy (51st, 28:47.64) also ran for Danville.