AUGUST 28, 2009 - WEST MILTON
The Covington girls cross country team placed an impressive 5th against a top notch field of runners.

"I thought we would be around 5th place," said coach Libby Long. "With Minster, Versailles and other top teams, this was a good way to start the season. I tell the girls we are only in control of how we run - we have to focus on what we are doing positively."

Tara Snipes led the way with a 12th place finish running a 20:35- - only 6 seconds off her best time from last year. Emily Fields had an outstanding day placing 20th, running a 20:49.

"Emily ran with determinations right from the start," Long said. "She began the year with an all-time personal best (her best time before this race was a 21:39)."

Casey Yingst and Jessie Shilt both ran great races. Casey placed 40th with a time of 21:56 and Jessie placed 43rd running a 22:10. Freshman Haley Adams also ran an impressive race finishing 53rd with a time of 22:30. Senior Carrie Spurgeon ran a 22:31 placing 54th and Rachel Carder ran a 23:15 placing 67th. Brittany Diltz placed 71st with a time of 23:30, followed by Julianna Simon 75th 23:44, Kayla Fissel 76th 23:44, Kayleigh Cecil 84th 24:04, and Hannah Retz 85th 24:09.

"We had enough runners for a B team today, which was also very strong," Long explained. "Both our A and B teams finished above the other league teams - which shows how our team is deep from beginning to end. The girls will continue to work hard and focus on upcoming meets."

The boys cross country team started their season Saturday at the 38th Annual Bob Schul Invitational in West Milton. They finished fourth out of twenty-six teams.

"This is the best start we have had over here in a long time and it is a direct reflection of how hard these boys have worked," said Covington boys coach Josh Long. "Our race had 205 total runners and our top five were all in the top 50, which is a great way to start, in a race that features many of the areas top runners."

Doing so well against top competition only adds to an already confident group.

"The boys were excited to get the first meet started to see just how we stacked up against the competition," Long continued. "They weren’t overly excited with their fourth place finish, which isn’t a bad thing because they want to get better."

Willy Hoffert led the buccs with a 9th place finish running a 17:13, followed by Brandon Flora 17:50, Zach Shilt 17:58, Dustin Fickert 18:17, Lane White 18:25, Jake Sowers 19:20, Dale Brant 19:51, Isaac Canan 20:38, Harry Hicks 20:59, Brian Hackett 22:22, Bryant Hicks 23:53, and Nick Tobias 24:47.

The Junior High boys placed 25th out of 42 teams. With over 335 runners competing Matt Carder placed 30th with a time of 12:28, Alex Shilling placed 62nd with a time of 13:06, followed by Steven Shane 195th 15:32, Nate Dunn 233rd 16:07, Tyler Richards 292nd 17:35, and Jese Shell 335th 23:50

The Junior High girls placed an impressive 4th out of 27 teams. Heidi Cron was 12th running a 13:47, Carly Shell was 25th 14:18, Cassidy Cain 31st 14:32, Jessie Crowell 41st 14:41, Sadie Canan 46th 14:47, Kristie Romie 86th 15:50, Julianna Yingst 88th 15:51, Maria Mohler 92nd 15:58, Brittany Robinson 169th 17:45, Teagan Casey 218th 20:33, and Meghan Parker 249th 25:06.