Still perfect: Lancaster improves to 7-0 and cruises to a district championship

HILLIARD — At the beginning of the season, the Lancaster girls’ cross country team wrote down some lofty goals. Writing them down is one thing, but going out and achieving them is another.

However, the Gales have more than lived up to the huge expectations they put upon themselves, and on Saturday, during the Division I, Section 1 district meet at Hilliard Darby, Lancaster continued to thrive in a big way.

The Gales, who have not lost a meet all season, improved to 7-0 by cruising to a district championship by beating the second-place team by 63 points. Lancaster qualified for next week’s regional meet.

“There is something special about these girls,” Lancaster head coach Teresa Tripp said. “From day one at camp when we sat down and wrote all our goals out and they said what they wanted to accomplish, there were some big, lofty goals and there has been no deviation from that since that point. They have held each other in check and they’ve kept each other in line. They are the goofiest group of girls. They know when to get serious, but they are having a good time and I think that is important. They understand it’s not about me in a race, it’s about us and creating something special as a team.”

Lancaster finished with 33 points and was followed by Gahanna (96), Marysville (105), Teays Valley (110) and Big Walnut (148) rounded out the top five in the 14-team field.

More: H.S. Roundup: Lancaster boys and girls win OCC-Buckeye Division cross country titles

Saturday’s weather was sunny and warm, which made it tough on a lot of runners in the meet, but the Gales never wavered.

“It was tough and you had to try and adjust your breathing. We knew it was going to be warm but we just had to push through,” junior Harper Allen said. “We are fighters, and it worked out. You just have to put one foot in front of the other and you just have to do it for the team. We are having a great season and we know it will take all of us to keep this thing going.”

Senior Marisa Heil continued her record-breaking season and led the Gales, who had five runners finish in the top 11. Heil broke her school record by running a blistering time if 17:28.04 to place second overall. Allen was third (18:28.04), followed by Brooke Derringer (7 ^th , 18:46.79), Ava Parrett (10 ^th , 18:55.85), Amelia Fries (11 ^th , 18:57.04), Hadley Allen (45 ^th , 20:49.28) and Lily Carpico (67 ^th , 21:56.78).

“We show up every day ready to work and wanting to get better, Allen said. “We have huge goals and we just want to keep it rolling. It is exciting for our program because this has never happened before. Just the emotion of it all is what keeps us going wanting to get better every day.”

Lancaster boys qualify for regional

The Gales placed fifth during Saturday’s district meet to qualify for next Saturday’s regional meet at Pickerington North.

Lancaster finished with 135 points, behind first-place Westerville North (58), Olentangy Orange (60, Dublin Coffman (80) and Westerville Central (109).

Junior Brock Jarrett led the way with a fifth-place finish  (15:54..89) out of more than 100 runners. He was followed by Carter Davis (28 ^th , 17:01.14), Joe Strigle (32 ^nd , 17:01.14), Hunter McFarland (33 ^rd, 17:09.14), Talan Carter (37 ^th , 17:21.14), Jayden Notestine (39 ^th , 17:24.14) and Charlie Cooperrider (43 ^rd , 17:39.14).

Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @twil2323.

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Still perfect: Lancaster improves to 7-0 and cruises to a district championship