Goshen has led all of Clermont County’s varsity girls cross country teams in the early-season competitions.
“We’re really a strong team. Everyone’s back,” said coach Ron Edwards. “We have a solid pack of girls. . . We’ll be competitive in the league, but Western Brown is really strong, too.”
Junior Stacy Hicks has been the leader of the Red and Gray turning in a best time of 20-minutes, 23-seconds, junior Kim Steele has recorded a 24:30, sophomore Kelsey Gaffney 24:30, and sophomore Sam Carpentero is “working very hard.” The Foote twins, Anna and Colleen, are also expected to turn in good times as the campaign progresses.
Batavia coach Beth Onecca is focusing on individual improvement with a team that consists of just three members (one senior, one junior, and one sophomore).
Bethel-Tate coach Jay Moore is experiencing a tough season. Among his six girls, three are injured and two are shared with the soccer team. “We’re having a lot of bad luck,” he said.
His top harriers are Western Brown transfer Shayna Runyan, a junior, and freshman Jessica Fischer who has turned in a time of 23:30.
Glen Este coach Angie Carson is disappointed with the size of her squad and it’s lack of good fortune. “We’re struggling as a team. We lack numbers and some of the girls are playing two sports and some are injured.”
Sophomore Stephanie Stoffel has the best individual time of 21:04 and senior Lyndsey Miller is “improving.”
Nine teams competed in the Third Annual Loveland Invitational that took place at Grailville. The host Tigers won with 30 points, Milford was third with 85, Goshen, fifth, 165, New Richmond, sixth, 166, Amelia, eighth, 195, and Glen Este, ninth, 201.
Hicks of Goshen paced the Clermont County competitors with a third place finish in 20-minutes, 24-seconds. Lacee Kurtz of Milford was seventh in 20:50, and Alana Kennedy of New Richmond was 10th in 20:59. Rounding out the top 20 of Clermont County’s finishers were Courtney Krummert of Milford (11) 21:02, Stoffel of Glen Este (16) 21:28, Rabekkah Randall of Milford (17) 21:30, and Kayla Wakefield of Amelia (20) 21:48.
The six-team Western Brown Invitational was won by the host Broncos with 33 points; Glen Este was sixth with 126. Batavia, Bethel-Tate, and Goshen did not enter complete five-person contingents.
The Fairfield Brian Plasman Invitational took place at Harbin Park. Milford was the pacesetter for Clermont County’s girls by placing fifth among 16 teams, New Richmond was 12th with 318, and Glen Este was 13th with 362. Fairmont was the victor with 34 points.