Local runners and teams fared well in the cross country 3A Region Championship at Yellow Creek Park on Saturday.
The Daviess County Panthers won the boys race, with Asher Alvey (4th, 16:33.64) leading the team. Other scorers for the Panthers included Brayden Kaelin (5th, 16.36.25), Aidan Taylor (9th, 17.16.76), Austin Spurrier (10th 17:17.94), and Ben Nunley (11th, 17.26.22)
Boys head coach Hunter Kurz was pleased with the Panthers’ performance.
“I thought the team ran the race exactly how they were supposed to,” Kurz said. “They executed the race plan perfectly. I believe if you can replicate their performance today at the state meet, we can be a top contender.”
Emmitt Brock led the Apollo Eagles to a runner-up title with an individual 2nd-place finish (16:20.47).
The Daviess County Panthers also claimed first place, led by Lucy Spaw with a 1st-place overall individual finish (19.24.01).
Other top finishers for the Lady Panthers included Blakely Greer (5th, 2017), Sally Tidwell (6th 2022), Haley Wofe (7th. 20:40), and Melanie Reesman (12th, 21:01).
Coach Josh Brasher was pleased with the team’s performance, noting that their plan to race the competition instead of the clock is working.
“I think the girls ran true to the plan and raced the competition and not the clock. I try to preach that state is anyone’s race and if we run for each other we will be where we need to be. If we stay true to this style of racing I think we will do extremely well at state,” Brasher said.
The top three teams in each region will advance to state in Lexington next weekend.
“I am most proud of how our girls have learned to run together and make each other stronger. At the end of workouts and races, I can always count on them to turn back and cheer their teammates in and often time run back and run them in through the finish. They help each other on and off the course,” Brasher said.
The full results were not available at the time of publication.
The Owensboro Catholic Aces won the 1A Region championship title, but results were not available at the time time of publicatio.
