Lancers sweep NWC cross country meet

Lincolnview/NWC cross country info

The Lincolnview Lancers hosted this year’s Northwest Conference cross country championships, sweeping all four divisions of the meet, including the varsity boys’ and girls’ and junior high boys’ and girls’ races.

Lincolnview was first in the boys’ varsity race with 36 points, followed by Columbus Grove with 54 points, and Crestview with 65 points in third place.

Bluffton’s Jacob Barnett won the boys’ race in a time of 17 minutes flat, while Lincolnview had two first-team All-NWC runners in Austin Elick, who was third in 17:12, and Trevor Neate, who finished fourth in 17:17. Their three freshman teammates finished as follows: Alek Bowersock, eighth in 17:32; Jacob Keysor, ninth in 17:33; and Karter Tow, 12th in 17:52. Lancer Andrew Fickert was 23rd and Brayden Farmer 33rd in the race.

“The boys had a good day,” said Lincolnview Coach Matt Langdon, who was also named “Coach of the Year” in both NWC boys’ and girls’ cross country. “Both Columbus Grove and Crestview have been running really well, so we knew we had to run a smart team race.

“Our upperclassmen ran well, both taking all-conference honors, and our freshmen were once again solid,” Coach Langdon added. “It was a fun race to watch and I am really proud of their accomplishment. Winning the NWC was one of the goals we set back in the summer and it was fun to win that meet on our home course.”

The Lancer girls had 28 points to win the varsity girls’ race, followed by Grove with 49 points and the Lady Knights in third place with 6 points.

Taylor Ellerbrock of Columbus Grove won the girls’ race in 19:46, while Bluffton’s Elizabeth Nisly was second in 19:53. Leading the Lady Lancers was Anna Gorman, who was third overall in 20:21, while Leslie Skelton of Crestview was fourth in a time of 20:35.

Other Lincolnview finishers were Brayden Langdon, seventh in 21:05; Rylee Byrne, eighth in 21:19; Madeline Snyder, ninth in 21:28; and Abbie Enyart, 10th in 21:34. Rounding out the varsity were Alena Looser in 13th place and Trinity Welch, 15th.

“This was by far our best race of the season,” Coach Langdon noted. “The girls are starting to put it together and today was just a glimpse of what they are capable of doing. They ran a smart race and executed our game plan perfectly.

“I am excited for the girls and ready to see what they can do down the tournament trail,” he added.