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Bobcat Boys Cross Country Finishes Fine Season At Districts

Above photo by Melanie Wilshire – “The Rock in Ridgway” a Districts Tradition (L-R) Nathan Frederick, Hayden Weber, Caleb Turner, Ky Clark, Jonas Wilshire, Josh Turner, Brendan Betwwy, with Ben Lambert lying in front. 

The Clarion Area Boys Cross Country Team concluded their 2022 campaign at the District Nine Class-A Championships, at Ridgway on Saturday (October 29th).

Though no Bobcats are moving on to the PIAA State Meet, the freshman laden squad had a good showing, with the team finishing in 8th place and two runners barely missing States, Hayden Weber (18:10.70) who finished 16th and Jonas Wilshire (18:19.40) who finished eighteenth.

Image by Diane Lutz: Hayden Weber who ran an amazing race seen here competing with 3 eventual State qualifiers – Ty Rankin – C-L, Julian Funaki – ECC and Gabe Fair, North Clarion.

Other Bobcat runners included: Josh Turner (37th), Ben Lambert (47th), Brendan Bettwy (55th), Ky Clark (58th) and Caleb Turner (60th) out of 100 competitors.

Image by Diane Lutz: Ben Lambert & Josh Turner work together through the first mile.

Coudersport’s Kevin Sherry was the Boys Champion with a time of 16:15.60.

Clarion-Limestone’s Logan Lutz was the top finisher among local runners, earning an 8th place medal at 17:55.20, earning a trip to States. Logan will be joined at States by his Lions’ teammate Ty Rankin who finished tenth. Keystone’s Jonathan Hansford and North Clarion’s Gabriel Fair will also be headed to States.

In Class-A the Top Two teams and Top Ten individuals, not on those teams, receive berths at States.

Photo by Diane Lutz: Boys’ Medalists

Brookville won the Team Championship and will be joined at States by 2nd place finisher Cranberry.

In addition to the Bobcats, other local teams with Top Ten finishes are: North Clarion in 3rd place, Clarion-Limestone in 6th and Keystone in tenth place.

The Girls’ Team Champion was Elk County Catholic, who will be joined by 2nd place finisher Cranberry at States. Locally, Keystone finished eighth.

The top local runner was Clarion-Limestone’s Adisen Jackson, who finished 9th with a time of 22:34.80. She will be joined at States by North Clarion’s Katie Bauer and Nicole Fair.

Photo by Diane Lutz: Girls’ Medalists

Clarion Area Head Coach Keith Murtha shared this, after the meet:

Super proud of these guys and their performance at Districts today! They did everything we asked of them, followed the plan to a tee, everyone PR’d big time and they are all freshman with exception of our elder statesmen, Ben, a sophomore.

Hayden and Jonas missed a shot at States by 2 and 4 places in an exceptionally fast field!

Congrats to Brookville, Cranberry (both teams) and Elk County Catholic on qualifying your teams and to all State Qualifiers! Enjoy every minute of it!

Photo by Rosary Pennington – Post race ice cream at the Meadows is a sweet reward!

Finally, shout out to Coach Rosary Pennington for your work and help all season long and sponsoring the ice cream on the way home today! It pays to know people! I greatly appreciate the support of all the parents, we have a great team, a super sport and the best is by far yet to come!

(Great year Bobcats!!!! And congratulations to everyone moving on to States!!!!)

Full results at www.runhigh.com