Shelby 40th in D-I race

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Staff Report Associated Press Associated Press 12:53 AM Sunday, November 8, 2009

COLUMBUS — It was a disappointing day for Butler County runners at the State Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Scioto Downs racetrack.

Lakota West sophomore Amanda Shelby was the top county finisher, traversing the 5K course in 19 minutes, 39.41 seconds to place 40th in the Division I girls race.

“It was really, really windy,” said Shelby, who was making her second straight trip to state. “The start was tough because of the wind and the crowd of runners.

“I learned so much from being here as a freshman last year. It helped me a lot for this year, but I still know I can run faster.”

Lakota East freshman Alaina Norman was 78th in 20:09.29.

West’s Aaron Gehring finished 62nd in the D-I boys race in 16:54.41. Teammate J.J. Weber was 86th in 17:12.95.

“Not good,” said Gehring, a senior making his third state appearance. “I tried to stick with the guys from St. Xavier and was with them for the first mile, but after that it just fell apart. I just didn’t have the energy today. I felt more tired than usual.”

Badin’s Evan North, a junior, and Brent Fritz, a senior, finished 76th and 77th, respectively, in the D-III boys race. North finished in 17:32.34; Fritz in 17:32.58.

“I’m not that happy with it, but I’m glad we made it here,” North said. “Next year we’ll have to do better. It was tough out there. I went out faster than I normally do. I got excited during the first mile. I wasn’t supposed to sprint out like that, but I did anyway. I didn’t want to get lost behind everybody.”

North and Fritz are both three-time state qualifiers.

“It was very tough,” Fritz said. “I went out in 5:17 and was still in 80th place. I felt out of it. I just tried to get back in it mentally, stayed with Evan and finished as strong as I could.”

Isaiah Bragg, former Cincinnati Christian School runner who won state last season, finished second this year for Springfield Emmanuel Christian.

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