Liam Raehsler Wins District 9 Cross Country Championship, Qualifies For States Along With Adam Bettwy as Bobcats Finish Fourth (10/25/14)

(By Rod Raehsler)

Liam Raehsler and Adam Bettwy qualified for the PIAA State Cross Country meet to be held in Hershey next Saturday (November 1) and the boys team finished fourth out of thirteen teams, in the District Nine Class A Championships, held today (Saturday, October 25) at Ridgway, their highest finish since 1987.

(Photos by Mark Bettwy) Liam and Adam with District Medals

Raehsler also became the first Bobcat to win a cross country district championship since 1987, by crossing the finish line first with a time of 17:00 earning his second trip to the state meet. Bettwy finished fifteenth with a time of 18:31 and will make the trip to Hershey for the first time.

Crowe Theim finished 38th with a time of 19:29, Kyle Bettwy finished 47th with a time of 20:04, and Jimmy Smathers came in at 20:28 which was good enough for 52nd to round out the scoring for the Bobcats.

Marshall Powers finished 63rd with a time of 21:37 and Victor Stahlman finished in 90th place with a time of 24:55. Liam and Adam will run at 11:45 a.m. this coming Saturday in Hershey.

Liam leading the field in District Nine Meet

The girls team also completed their season in Ridgway. Hannah Frakes was the top finisher for the Bobcats coming in at 18th place with a time of 23:05. Hannah missed qualifying for states by only two place positions.

Liz Saver finished in 54th with a time of 26:51 and Lili Frakes finished in 62nd with a time of 27:51. The girls did not have enough runners to post a team score.

(Thanks to Rod Raehsler for this article and Mark Bettwy for the photos. Congratulations Liam, Adam!!!! Have a great race at States!!!! Congratulations to all the Cats!!!!

District Team Scores for Boys:

1. Cranberry 71
2. Elk County Catholic 74
3. Coudersport 87
4. Clarion Area 131
5. North Clarion 140
6. Otto-Eldred 141
7. Oswayo Valley 162
8. Brockway Area 185
9. Kane Area 205
10. Moniteau 230
11. Allegheny-Clarion Valley 311
12. Smethport Area 325
13. Union 331