Recordpub.com - Red Devil girls capture PTC Metro cross country title

By Colin Harris

Record-Courier staff writer

RANDOLPH -- While the faces have changed since the inception of the Portage Trail Conference in 2005, Crestwood and Woodridge's dominance in their respective divisions has remained the same.

On Saturday afternoon, both teams continued their respective runs as the Red Devils and Bulldogs each earned their fourth consecutive PTC cross country titles at the Randolph Fairgrounds.

Field's Destiny Cosentino placed first among Metro runners in 19:31, helping her Falcons to a second-place finish.

However, five Crestwood runners -- led by Jamie Kager (third, 19:41) and Tyler Mae Hunter (fourth, 19:53) -- were the difference in Crestwood's 32-point, first-place finish.

"I think this year's team is more of a group as opposed to previous years," Crestwood coach Rosalie Franek said. "Previously, we had (All-Big Ten runner) Bridget Franek and (All-MAC runner) Cassie Schenck and we relied on them for points and top finishes.

"Now, it feels like this is a team and any person can step up and provide the kind of results we need to be successful."

Joining Hunter and Gray in the top 10 for the Red Devils were teammates Jessica Gray (seventh, 20:05), Sammi Vaughan (eighth, 20:10) and Karlie Lieberth (10th, 20:41).

A pair of Falcons runners joined Cosentino at the medal podium on the afternoon, as Rachel Salberg (fifth, 20:01) and Maddie Tasker (sixth, 20:04) helped Field to its 42-point team finish.

Rounding out the team finishers were Kent Roosevelt (third place, 113), Coventry (fourth, 119), Southeast (fifth, 136), Ravenna (sixth, 139), Norton (seventh, 166) and Springfield (eighth, 223).

Over in the County Division, perennial state contender Woodridge took first place in convincing fashion. With a 21-point team finish, Bulldogs runners filled eight of the top 10 spots on the afternoon.

The Woodridge duo of Erin Mercer and Emily Sabo took first and second place in 18:34 and 19:03, respectively. Joining the two in the top 10 were teammates Becca Howdyshell, Tiffany Onifer, Miranda Stockton, Sarah Dickinson, Sarah Turley and Arielle Chopka, who occupied fifth through 10th place for the Bulldogs.

Out of the 80-runner field, Woodridge placed an astounding 17 girls among the top 50 finishers.

Sandwiched in between Woodridge placers were Annie Wise (third, 19:34) and Cammie Robb (fourth, 19:36) of Waterloo. The two runners helped the Vikings to a solid second-place team finish with 63 points.

Rounding out the remainder of County schools were Garfield (third, 97), Streetsboro (fourth, 105), Rootstown (fifth, 117) and East Canton (sixth, 117).