Saturday, November 03, 2001
Ohio girls cross country preview
Turpin, Colerain among contenders
By Dave Schutte
Enquirer contributor
When asked about his team's prospects before the season, Turpin girls cross country coach Steve Nester didn't mention Jaclyn Louis as one of the top runners. But today at Scioto Downs in Columbus, Louis will be one of the key performers for a Spartans team expected to contend for the Division I state championship.
Four-time defending Division I state champion Colerain, second at the district and regional, will join Turpin in the big-school race.
In what appears to be a wide-open Division II race, either Wyoming or McNicholas could win the state championship.
Madeira looks as if it could finish in the top five in the Division III competition.
“Jaclyn has come out of nowhere,” Turpin's Nester said. “She has improved over nine minutes and is now our second runner. She wasn't one of the girls we were counting on. That shows coaching means very little.”
Louis, 17, got involved in cross country as a sophomore with two goals in mind.
“I wanted to finish every race and try to improve my time,” Louis said. “Last year I was given the most improved runner award running for the junior varsity.”
The fastest times by Louis in the 3.1-mile races were 26:28 as a sophomore and 22:26 last year. Three weeks ago, Louis went 18:50.
“During the summer, I worked hard, but I didn't time myself,” Louis said. “I never thought I'd break 20 minutes, and when I did, it psyched me up.”
Turpin qualified to the state meet last season and finished ninth. The Spartans returned their entire starting lineup, but only sophomore Carolyn Rauen and juniors Corey Randall and Melanie Price will run today.
Besides Louis, freshmen Samantha Koeppe, Ellen Nienhaus and Jacqueline Jaworek have earned starting positions.
Hilliard Davidson, Medina and Massillon Jackson are expected to challenge Turpin and Colerain for the Division I championship.
Wyoming coach Mike Jacobs expects the Cowboys and McNicholas to be overlooked in the Division II race.
“People probably aren't looking at us as a threat,” Jacobs said. “We're still going to be the underdog, but McNicholas or us could sneak up and win it.”
Wyoming's top performer is freshman Erika Schmitt.
Also a standout soccer player, Schmitt decided to run because her older sister, Alexia, was a senior on the team and wanted to compete together for the final time.
“I said before the season that we could surprise a few people,” Jacobs said. “We're undefeated and we plan to run this race like every other this year.”
Besides the Schmitt sisters, sophomores Caitlyn Fey, Abby Mowry, Lauren Carter and Laura Anglim and junior Emily Spadafore will start for Wyoming.
McNicholas, one point behind Wyoming and Indian Lake at the regional, also starts a young team.
Besides senior Tess Hilgefort, the Rockets feature freshmen Lauren Bartlett, Megan Robers and Lauren Barlag; junior Alycia Moller, and sophomores Jamie Roflow and Sammy Lammert.
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Dayton Carroll 18, Roger Bacon 13
McNicholas 56, Mount Healhty 13
New Richmond 42, Ross 38
North College Hill 41, Chillicothe Zane Trace 10
Piqua 21, Edgewood 0
Reading 39, Wheelersburg 31
Washington C.H. 39, Indian Hill 31
Kentucky football playoff scores
Ballard 43, Dixie Heights 32
Beechwood 56, Berea 6
Bellevue 27, Nicholas Co. 13
Covington Catholic 44, Harrison Co. 22
Highlands 49, Bourbon County 30
Holmes 24, Montgomery County 0
Lexington Catholic 54, Grant County 14
Lloyd 46, East Carter 0
Newport Central Catholic 56, Raceland 7
Paris 37, Holy Cross 6
Shelby County 19, Boone County 17
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Ohio girls cross country preview
