HILLIARD — Two Knox County girls won district cross country races Saturday, and 25 runners total punched their tickets to regionals this weekend at Pickerington North High School.
Fredericktown senior Elsa Hoam placed first in her Division III district race at Hilliard Darby High School. She finished with a time of 19:14 – 10 seconds ahead of the next runner, Columbus School for Girls junior Mira Martin.
It marked Hoam’s first district title, as she placed third (19:11) in the Division II meet last year; fourth (19:24) her sophomore year; and 14th (20:03) her freshman year.
Hoam has now won three straight races, as she won the Johnstown Harrier Showdown on Oct. 8 before taking home Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference gold on Oct. 15. She will go head-to-head with Grandview Heights freshman Maci Tew, the winner of the other district race Saturday, for the regional title this weekend.
Mount Vernon senior Sophie Zoldak also took home district gold Saturday at Hilliard Darby High School. She won her Division I district race with a time of 18:52 – finishing 23 seconds ahead of the next runner, Olentangy Berlin sophomore Grace Heitkamp.
It marked Zoldak’s second straight district title, as she took home gold last year with a time of 18:46. Zoldak finished 11th at districts her sophomore year (19:26) and 27th her freshman year (20:47).
Zoldak ran one of her fastest races of the year Saturday, trimming 21 seconds off her time at last week’s Ohio Cardinal Conference championship meet, where she finished fifth overall.
She will battle Dublin Jerome sophomore Helen Randolph and Hilliard Davidson senior Caitlyn Jones, who both won their respective district races Saturday, as well as other top runners from across central Ohio for the regional title this weekend.
Here’s who else qualified for regionals at Hilliard Darby on Saturday:
DIVISION III
The Fredericktown girls team punched its ticket, placing first in a field of nine (the top four teams and 16 individuals advanced to regionals).
Hoam led the way, but the Freddies also saw strong finishes from sophomore Ellie Kershner (13th, 21:13); freshman Micah Phillips (17th, 21:31); freshman Angelina Overholt (18th, 21:31); junior Kelsey Scott (20th, 21:37); sophomore Taylor Brown (23rd, 22:05); and junior Kacie Rook (25th, 22:29).
Fredericktown finished with 58 team points, which was 39 ahead of second-place Fairfield Christian Academy and 43 ahead of third-place Mount Gilead.
Fredericktown’s boys team also qualified for regionals, placing second in a field of 11 (the top four teams and 16 individuals advanced to regionals).
Senior Owen Krabill led the way, finishing ninth overall with a time of 17:09. He was followed by sophomore Aiden McManis (11th, 17:17); sophomore Brandon Hogg (17th, 17:40); senior Peyton Hogg (20th, 17:51); junior Kaleb Randall (25th, 18:13); senior Evan Hogg (35th, 18:52) and sophomore Lee Brumenshenkel (41st, 19:18).
Fredericktown finished with 79 team points, which was 13 behind first-place Northmor and 16 ahead of third-place Marion Pleasant.
Centerburg freshman Payton Tucker qualified for regionals individually, finishing fifth overall in her district race with a time of 20:15 (the top four teams and 16 individuals advanced to regionals).
East Knox junior Taylor Severt and sophomore Adrian Clutter did the same, placing eighth (20:35) and 14th (21:17), respectively, in their district race Saturday.
The Division III regional meet will be held Saturday at Pickerington North. The top five teams and 20 individuals in the boys race (11 a.m.) will advance to state; the top six teams and 24 individuals in the girls race (11:45 a.m.) will advance to state.
DIVISION I
Mount Vernon’s girls team made the regional cut, placing third in a field of 14 (the top five teams and 20 individuals advanced to regionals).
Zoldak anchored a Yellow Jacket team that also saw strong finishes from freshman Lucy Rush (13th, 20:02); freshman Amelia Martin (17th, 20:30); senior Alex Couch (25th, 21:09); junior Hanna Hofferberth (44th, 21:57); sophomore Ainsley Bonaudi (45th, 22:01); and sophomore Taylor Couch (83rd, 24:57).
Mount Vernon finished with 100 team points, which was 19 ahead of fourth-place Thomas Worthington and 37 behind second-place Olentangy Liberty.
Mount Vernon senior Matt Salvucci qualified individually on the boys side, placing 15th at districts with a time of 16:42 (the top five teams and 20 individuals advanced to regionals).
The Division I regional meet will be held Saturday at Pickerington North. The top five teams and 20 individuals in both the boys (2 p.m.) and girls (2:45 p.m.) races will advance to state.
