PICKERINGTON — Area runners experienced both the highest of highs and the lowest of lows Saturday in the Regional meet at Pickerington North.
Fredericktown’s Nick Gaumer and Emily Roberts both experienced the high of qualifying for the state meet, while the Centerburg girls experienced the agony of seeing a chance at glory denied by a uniform violation.
Roberts will experience the thrill of racing in her second straight state meet next Saturday. She almost had the ultimate thrill, finishing a close second in the Division III regional race to Fallon Doyle of Bellaire St. John.
“Today was good,” Roberts said. “I thought I’d sit on her (Doyle) for a while. I felt like I could do more, but she supermanned me at the end. I did all I could.”
Roberts (19:31.50) led the race as the two entered the final straightaway, but Doyle had a super kick to win by two seconds.
Gaumer made it two Fredericktown runners that will advance to the state meet at raceway when he finished 12th Saturday in a time of 17:32.17. After just missing a chance last fall, Gaumer was ecstatic to be running one more week this year.
