Fast course, fast results at piketon invitational

A combination of a fast course and pristine weather conditions resulted in some impressive performances at the Piketon Invitational Saturday. Over 38 schools total attended the invite, which boasts a course with a reputation of being one of the fastest in Southern Ohio.
 
In the boys varsity race Unioto had four runners in the top ten out of a 163-field helping them claim a first place finish of 42 points. The Shermans defeated W. Va. powerhouse Cabell Midland, defending state champions, who finished second with 53 points.
 
"We did awesome. Our boys did great today," said Unioto coach Matt Paxton.
 
Unioto freshman Adrian Ross won the meet with a time of 16:10 - 26 seconds faster than his previous personal best. Midland's Trey Beckett finished second in 16:39, followed by Unioto's Ryan Valentine in 16:41. Rounding out the Shermans top five were Mark Flury, finishing seventh with a time of 16:54, Corey Martin, 10th with a 17:12, and Sammy Holbert finished 26th in 17:43.
 
Wheelersburg finished third with 136 points, Zane Trace placed fifth with 156 points, and Piketon finished sixth with 203 points, followed by Paint Valley with 231 points out of the 22-team field.
 
The Pioneers were led by Matt Boedeker, finishing ninth with a time of 16:54. Matt and his teammates Marc Boedeker, Josh Joosse (17:36), and Eric Shiflett (19:18) all finished with personal bests.

On the girls side ZT freshman Taylor Hatfield continued to improve shattering her previous best and school record time of 19:26 with a second place 18:52 finish. Gallipolis freshman Peyton Adkins finished first with a new course record time of 18:20
 
Southeastern's Danielle Ball finished sixth with a time of 20:07 and ZT's Lydia Weaver placed eighth with a PR of 20:20.
 
Midland finished first with a score of 40 points, followed by Gallipolis, 86, and ZT with 112. Unioto finished fourth with a score of 139 out of the 16-team field.
 
ZT ran without No. 2 runner Megan Roll, also a member of the soccer team. The rest of the team stepped up and helped the team to its third place finish. Lindsesy Bryan and Jenna Crabtree finished one second apart at 21:27 (Bryan) and 21:28. Kalyn Hoffman filled in at the No. 5 spot with a 24:16 67th place finish.
 
"We told her you need to run faster to help us out in the team scoring, and as a freshman she handled it very well," said ZT coach Jennifer Moore.
 
The Shermans continued to improve with their fourth place finish, led by Sarah Wolford's 22nd place time of 21:13. Both Taylor Barillaro and Miriah Park ran a time of 21:32. Lindsey Pence, 22:23, and Abby Oyer, 22:24 rounded out the top five.
 
In the girls junior high race ZT's Kinnedy Hatfield broke the junior high school record with a four place time of 12:54.