Boys lined up to (Courtesy/Claire C.)

After finishing seventh in 16:52.7 at the Division II Central District race on Saturday, October 19, Dane C. secured himself a ticket to the regional meet the following weekend.

Dane ran Regionals at Pickerington North on Saturday, October 26, with clear blue skies, a crisp breeze, and autumn leaves scattered along the course. The race is notoriously disliked for its speedy first loop heading into a wooded trail, then a loop around the fields—with surprise hills—which seems to stretch on forever, before going back into the woods and sprinting to finish. 

On this Saturday afternoon, Dane tied his personal record of 16:47.6, an impressive feat given the course. He finished 32nd among 163 athletes, falling short of the 24th-place benchmark that advances to States. Despite not qualifying, his coaches say it was the best race he’s ran: he began steady and controlled, before weaving through the field and leaving it all out on the course. 

Coming up, the banquet on Sunday, November 3, will celebrate the boys cross country team. Congratulations to Dane and his teammates on a successful season!