Senior Mitchael Shelton takes top spot in region by MATT HUGHES
J-E Editor
For the third consecutive year, the Webster County boys’ cross country team ran away with the AA Region 1 Championship on Saturday, placing four runners in the top five.
Senior Mitchell Shelton took control of the race in the first 800 meters and never looked back, claiming the overall top spot for the second straight year, finishing the race in 16:38.67.
He was followed by senior Trevor Cole in third (17:19.18), junior Ronin Periard in fourth (17:25.94) and senior Preston Glazebrook in fifth (17:42.12).
“Placing four guys in the top five just shows how important this race meant for the team,” said Coach Todd Whitsell. “This marks three years in a row this group has been able to call themselves Region Champs.”
All seven Trojan runners placed in the top 23 in a field of 40 runners. Seventh grader Ryan Roland took the fifth and final scoring sport for the Trojans in a time of 19:30.49. Senior Spencer McCormick was twentieth in 19:30.49 with junior Reece Clayton claiming 23rd in a time of 20:20.28.
In 2014, the Trojans made a surprising splash on the state cross country scene by claiming second place at the AA State Championships. Mitchell Shelton was the team’s top runner, taking fourth place in a time of 16:50.38.
“They are all excited about the win Saturday but now they’re focus is on the state meet,” said Whitsell. “I know each one of these guys will compete and will be in the race in challenging for the top spots in the state race.”
The AA State meet is shaping up to be a battle of seniors. The Trojan’s stiffest competition looks to be North Oldham County, the 2014 AA State Champions, and Highlands High School who finished just behind Webster last year. North Oldham is returning five of it’s top six runners from the 2014 championship, while Highlands returns with it’s squad intact, including the overall state winner from 2014, Ethan Shuley, who finished the race in 15:58.14.
Shuley currently holds the fastest 5000m time of 2015. He finished the Trinity / Valkyrie Invitational in 15:16.89 earlier this season.
Reach MATT HUGHES
at 270-667-2068 or
matt@journalenterprise.com