COLUMBUS — Saturday started out as the most significant day in area cross country in recent memory. When it was all over, Fredericktown’s Isaac Potes and Mount Vernon’s Sarah Baker each took their places on the podium as All-Ohio in the 2008 Ohio State High School Cross Country Championships at Scioto Downs.
Potes, who qualified as an individual and with his school, was one of the favorites in Division III boys. He was among the leaders the entire race, and ultimately finished fifth. His 16:03.92 topped his qualifying time in the regionals.
Potes got out quickly in a fast field, and fought to hold on to his spot among the leaders.
“I got out where I needed to be,” said Potes. “That was kind of the whole point of going out fast. About the two-mile mark, I got cramps and I couldn’t get rid of them. I was getting tired at that point. It would be nice if I got first, but that’s the way it goes. I’m happy. I finished and I’m alive, so I’m happy.”
“We came out and we gave it our best shot,” said Fredericktown coach Denny Stevens. “The best of the best are here and only 16 teams get to the state and we are one of them. I thought we might do better, but our guys ran as hard as they could and we’re proud of them.”
Baker moved up during the race and was passing other runners all the way to the end, winding up 24th overall in Division I, posting a time of 19:10.38.
“I made passes on the hill,” said Baker. “Once I saw everyone was dying, I knew I was strong enough to pass them. I kept pushing myself and thinking where I wanted to be and I just kept going. That was my plan before the race.
“It feels great. That’s all I wanted today was to get All-Ohio and I got it, so I am really, really happy right now. That was my goal all year. I worked hard and my whole team worked hard all year, and we worked together. I am just glad I got to end my season like this.”
“Back when we started running in July, this is the goal Sarah and I came up with, was being in the top 25,” Mount Vernon coach Pat Gray said. “Last year, we were happy to be here. Today, she got top 25. She worked very hard. She was focused the entire season. She knew what she wanted and I am absolutely thrilled that she got All-Ohio.”
Crystal Wise set a Fredericktown girls school record for the highest state finish ever. Unfortunately for Wise, she was five seconds shy of joining Potes and Baker as All-Ohio. Her 19:58.90 was good for 30th place in DIII, but her time couldn’t crack the top 25.
“I wish I could have gotten in the top 25, that would have been nice,” said Wise. “I wanted to be the first Fredericktown girl to ever make All-Ohio. I don’t think that I could have gone any harder. I was just about at my breaking point. You can only go as fast as you can.”
“What a way to end it for her,” Stevens said. “She broke the 20-minute barrier at the state meet and that’s the first time ever for a Fredericktown girl. She just got better and better as the season went along. She was moving up all the way through. What a great way to finish her senior season.”
Potes’ teammates finished solidly in their first turn at the state. Delaney McGuire was 98th with a time of 17:31.19. Jimmy Shinaberry was 102nd, followed by teammates Garrett Gatton (113), Sean Kennedy (116), Neil Brown (136) and Justin Giles (142). The Freddies finished 13th as a team in DIII.
“It was nice, but just a little bit hot,” said McGuire. “It was fast — really fast. We ran a pretty tight pack — Jimmy, Sean, Garrett and I. Of course, there was Isaac leading us. I’m lucky to have a team this good around me. I feel fantastic when I’m out there running.”
“Actually, I like it a little cooler, but it was a nice day — especially for state,” said Potes. “When we got into the hills, I did a little better. I gained ground on the people near me, but the people up front — whew! — they were smoking.”
Freshman Stephanie Loshbough led Johnstown’s girls team, finishing 59th in DII with a time of 20:33.13. Teammate Erin Radigan was 83rd at 21:00.47, followed by Kaila Kramer (95th at 21:13.21). Also for the Johnnies, Karlee Michel was 101st, followed by Emily Johnson (122), Ashley Mast (129) and Kaitlyn Sapp (136). The Johnnies’ girls wound up 12th in DII.
“Undoubtedly, all of them ran with everything they had today, there’s no doubt in my mind,” said Johnstown coach Eric Hamner. “That’s all I will ever ask of an athlete, is to run with your hearts and everything you’ve got, all the way to the finish. I think that they handled it well for their first time.”
“Our coach told us to start off the first 800 [meters] a little slower than normal, and I think that really helped,” said Radigan. “A lot of the guys from Johnstown were over by the hills, with their bodies painted and screaming to us. I was able to glide up the hill — it was awesome. We ran the course [Friday.] It’s a pretty good course but, it’s still a hard one. I am just thankful to my teammates. Also, we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for coach Hamner or our coach from last year, Ann Pacholec.”
“The heat was kind of a shock but I tried my best to stay up with the competition,” said Michel. “The hills were a little bit of a drag, but we had a lot of encouragement from the sidelines.”
“I’m really excited to be here,” said Mast. “I was really, really nervous when we started. It was really hot today and really fast. The hills were a surprise. Our coach said that we need to maintain our pace up the hill and go down really fast to use it to our advantage. A lot of our fans were on the hill, so that helped.”
“It was pretty great,” said Loshbough. “I’m just glad we got here with all the seniors on the team. It was a good experience and we made history in Johnstown. It was hot and it was a hilly course. I wasn’t feeling the best and I am glad the running is over with, but I am going to miss the team.”
Johnstown’s Justin Hornick, who faded slightly in the hills outside the grandstand area at the 2 1/2- mile point, was 63rd in boys DIII, holding on to post a 17:04.13.
“Conditions were pretty warm,” said Hornick. “The weather’s fair — I got a little breeze. They went out fast on the first part, so I was kind of prepared for that. Overall, it was pretty hard, but I enjoyed it and I am glad to be here.”
“Being on that starting line, with the best of the state against you, for Jeremy to stay in control and not go out too fast was actually pretty impressive,” Hamner said. “I don’t think he got out too fast. Maybe he just ran out of a little strength. We may have peaked him too soon.”
Hornick got out to a 5:05 in the first mile, trying to follow his coache’s advice.
“I was a little prepared because coach was telling me, throughout the week, ‘Stay calm, don’t go out too fast. You’ll catch them at the mile-and-a-half,’” said Hornick.
Some people reveled in the hot weather. Kelsey Burt of Highland, sporting bright red tights and a long sleeve shirt, managed to finish 86th in DII, posting a time of 21:02.98.
“The course is pretty tough,” said Burt. “There was a hill there toward the end that made it harder.”
Burt, who was trying to avoid the pitfalls of going out too fast, as she did in the Regionals in Troy, showed much discipline.
“I had a problem with going out way too fast,” said Burt. “My coach said, ‘Hold back a little bit and then, catch some people later,’ and I did it the best I could. I might have held back a little too much.”
“It was a great day,” said Highland coach Laura Stanley. “Just a great course and beautiful weather. I can’t ever remember weather like that at the state meet. It’s always great to get to the state — especially with a sophomore. The first time at the state is almost overwhelming. She never competed at this level before, so this lets her see what the competition is like.”
It appeared Burt might be dressed too warmly and that might hurt her over the length of the course, but that was not the case.
“Even in 75 degrees you can count on Kelsey to have on tights and a long sleeve shirt,” said Stanley. “It doesn’t matter how hot the weather is.”
“It ends right here,” said Stevens. “This is where it should end. This is the state and our kids are ending their season here, but this is the beginning of next year, too.”
