Josh Methner cruises home to stay perfect on the season and punch his ticket to San Diego
Snap video recap I Full Boys video recap I Full Girls video recap I Toeing The Line
-After viewing the worsening weather conditions from the previous races prior to the boys' seeded race, there was a feeling of mixed emotions in the air. The National Cross Country Course on the campus of UW Parkside in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was in shreds. On the line were spots to the national championship in San Diego, California on December 14.
The cannon shot out and it seemed the race pace went out pretty solid. Most of us were not aware of how things looked with a portion of the course altered. Meet directors designed a "P" that spread out for more than a mile and virtually out of sight and mind for most of the fans.
Josh Methner (Sr., Hersey HS IL) came into view and slogged through the second mile in approximately 10:05. Bob Liking (Sr., St. Charles East) was on the opposite a few ticks back. Michigan, led by a slew of runners, included the names of Michiganders Evan Bishop (Michigan) and Carter Solomon, who held their positions.
Methner would cruise home lightly in 15:46 to win his first regional title. Although the times were not very fast, it was a slight improvement over last year's sluggish effort.
| 1 | Josh Methner | 12 | Hersey HS IL | 15:46.70 | 1 | ||
| 2 | Michael Hancock | 12 | Dearborn Divine Child HS MI | 15:51.30 | 2 | ||
| 3 | Nathan Walker | 11 | Fremont HS MI | 15:52.60 | 3 | ||
| 4 | Bob Liking | 12 | St. Charles HS IL | 15:53.20 | 4 | ||
| 5 | Zach Stewart | 12 | Brighton HS MI | 15:53.80 | 5 | ||
| 6 | Evan Bishop | 12 | East Lansing HS MI | 15:54.50 | 6 | ||
| 7 | Brendan Favazza | 12 | Clarkston HS MI | 15:57.10 | 7 | ||
| 8 | Jack Spamer | 12 | Brighton HS MI | 15:58.20 | 8 | ||
| 9 | Carter Solomon | 12 | Plymouth HS MI | 15:59.30 | 9 | ||
| 10 | Parker Wolfe | 11 | Cherry Creek HS CO | 15:59.70 | 10 | ||
-----
The girls' race was a complete reversal of the boys despite having arguably the same amount of star power.
During the very portion of the race, the headling girls were already in primetime position and they probably understood that the driest part of the course was the initial half-mile.
It was Abby Vanderkooi (So., Michigan), Zofia Dudek (Sr., Michigan), Taylor Ewert (Ohio), Grace Hartman (Ohio), Tatum David (Illinois), Riley Stewart (Colorado) and Katelynne Hart (Illinois) were up top forming a wall that exceeded the eyes imagination.
Later at two miles, it was Vanderkooi in 11:12 followed by Dudek, Ewert, and Hart. They were all within a few ticks of one another. The next group led by Stewart, Crain, David, and Lianna Surtz (Illinois) were about 26 seconds back. It was clear that the majority of the qualifiers were going to come from the first two packs.
It would be Vanderkooi who trotted home first in a fine time of 17:17 to secure her spot to California.
National qualifiers:
| 1 | Abby Vanderkooi | 10 | Muskegon Western HS MI | 17:17.80 | 1 | ||
| 2 | Zofia Dudek | 12 | Ann Arbor HS MI | 17:20.50 | 2 | ||
| 3 | Taylor Ewert | 12 | Beavercreek HS OH | 17:24.90 | 3 | ||
| 4 | Katelynne Hart | 12 | Glenbard West HS IL | 17:34.60 | 4 | ||
| 5 | Annalyssa Crain | 11 | Edgewood HS IN | 18:04.20 | 5 | ||
| 6 | Riley Stewart | 10 | Cherry Creek HS CO | 18:04.20 | 6 | ||
| 7 | Tatum David | 9 | Olney (Richland County) HS IL | 18:04.40 | 7 | ||
| 8 | Analee Weaver | 11 | Stillwater HS MN | 18:09.80 | 8 | ||
| 9 | Daniella Santos | 12 | Hilliard Darby HS OH | 18:12.30 | 9 | ||
| 10 | Audrey Dadamio | 11 | Birmingham Seaholm HS MI | 18:14.70 | 10 | ||