TIFFIN — Galion High School runner Chad Taylor will compete this Saturday at the OHSAA cross country state championships.
The Tigers sophomore earned his place in the Division II state meet after finishing 11th at the regional championships last Saturday in Tiffin. Taylor posted a time of 17:07.6 to book his passage to Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park in Columbus for the state championships.
“So excited for Chad to have qualified to the state cross country meet,” Galion head coach Cindy Conner said. “So proud of this kid. I can’t wait to watch him run in Columbus next Saturday. He left it all on the course today. His hard work has paid off.”
It was Taylor’s third consecutive standout performance in the postseason. At the Division II district meet on Oct. 23 at Amann Reservoir, Taylor finished in fifth place, turning in a time of 16:48.9.
At the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference championships on Oct. 16 in Marion, the talented sophomore placed fourth with a time of 16:48. Tht established a new personal record, according to head coach Cindy Conner.
The boys teams from Lexington, Lima Shawnee, and Shelby each qualified for the state championships after finishing 1-2-3, respectively, at Tiffin.
Eric Board from Maumee and Joshua Taylor from Bryan finished first and second, respectively, in a hotly contested race. Board emerged as the district champion, crossing the finish line in 16:16.5, just edging Taylor, who hit the tape in 16:17.7. A total of nine individual runners from the Tiffin meet qualified for the state championships along with the three teams.
The Division II boys state championship race is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Fellow Galion sophomore Raygann Campbell finished 28th at the girls regional meet. Her time was 21:05.3.
“Great job at regionals today (for) Raygann,” Conner said. “It was a sloppy mess but (she) conquered it with a great attitude and a 28th place finish. Great season (for) Raygann.”
Lexington, Eastwood, Shelby, and Liberty Benton were the top four girls teams at the Tiffin regional and will compete at the state championships on Saturday. Eight individual runners also qualified for the state meet.
Colonel Crawford girls head to state
Colonel Crawford is one of seven teams from the Division III regional at Tiffin to qualify for the state championships this Saturday. The Eagles placed third in the team standings behind first-place Minster and Liberty Center. St. Henry, Ashland Crestview, Margaretta, and Fort recovery also qualified for the state meet.
Wynford came in 16th place in the team standings.
This marks the sixth time that the Colonel Crawford girls program has reached the state championship meet. The Eagles qualified for the 2020 meet and the program also made trips to the state meet in 1987, 1992, 2003, and 2004, according to OHSAA records.
Gabby Roston was the top performer for Colonel Crawford. She placed 21st with a time of 20:25.7.
Olivia Hardy finished in 49th place with a time of 21:19.9. Izzy Roston placed 51st, posting a time of 21:21.5. Cecelia Chase was 67th with a time of 21:44.5.
Maria Smith finished in 113th place with a time of 22:52.3. Olivia Chase placed 157th with time of 24:32.8. Sheba Sulser came in 167th with a time of 24:59.6.
The Division III girls state championship race is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday at Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park.
In the boys race, Colonel Crawford’s Luke Lawson finished in 105th place with a time of 18:59.5.
