FREDERICKTOWN — Mount Gilead grabbed sevn of the top 10 spots to win Saturday’s boys Knox Morrow Athletic Conference cross country championship.
Fredericktown and Centerburg tied for 2nd, each with 79 points in the race at the Kokosing Dam/Reservoir.
Taking top honors for the individual championship was Mount Gilead junior Henry Bartlett with a time of 16:24. Finishing in the top five team standings were: Mount Gilead (17), Centerburg (79), Fredericktown (79), Northmor (910 and Cardington-Lincoln (113).
On the girls’ side, Northmoor’s Vada Walters took the hardware with a time of 19:06. The final girls standings were: Northmor 27, Mount Gilead 36, Fredericktown 69, Danville 114, and Centerburg 133.
Fredericktown coach Bob Geiger said the chilly weather was welcome for his team.
“The cooler weather helps us,” he said. “When it is too hot, there is not much you can do, with the cool weather it affects the amount of time we use to warm up. “
How does one go about coaching cross country?
“A lot of it is conditioning and being ready. Once they start there are no time outs, you cannot talk to them,” Geiger said.
Even though the staging area resembled an Alaskan campground more than a cross-country landing zone, Megan Durbin, athletic trainer with Avita, said that the mishaps and injuries she treats are not exclusive to the cold.
“A few slips and strains, twisted ankles, and the cold might aggravate preexisting conditions like asthma,. These athletes are in very good shape,” Durbin said.
Not thirty minutes later, Durbin was working on a runner with a skinned knee and left hand.
Fredericktown Athletic Director, Tim Doup said nothing takes the place of experience and a great team when planning an event like the championship.
“Believe it or not. it is not that difficult. We have done it for so many years. The coaches and the community are great,” Doup said. “Mainly it is {logistics}, making sure we have Gators and carts, just everything in place.”