Taylor Ewert Leads Three Teammates Into Top 10, Beavercreek Wins Second Straight Ohio Title

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Beavercreek High cross country head coach Howard Russ isn't shy to voice that his 2019 girls team is far and away the best team he's coached. The No. 3 team in the country showed why on Saturday at the Ohio State Cross Country Championships in Hebron. Led by Arkansas-bound Taylor Ewert, Beavercreek placed four runners in the top 10 to score an impressive 51 points to win the program's second straight Division 1 state title.

“We went over the plan during the week, and the goal was to put four in the top 10,” Russ said. “They executed perfectly. I’m very happy with how they ran today.”

Ewert won her second consecutive individual title, covering the National Trail Raceway 5,000-meter course in 17 minutes, 22.5 seconds, the fastest time of the day. Teammate and senior Savannah Roark was runner-up (17:48.6), while Jodie Pierce was seventh (18:02.9) and Juliann Williams was ninth (18:11.9). Senior Kendall Hobbs was 55th overall (19:16.5), as all top 5 runners for Beavercreek improved on their time and place from a year ago. (Photo by Howard Russ)

“They pushed each other to get to this point,” Russ said. “And they’ve all made huge improvements.”

Russ said Friday night before the race, per tradition, the girls read letters written by parents, past teachers and community members to serve as motivation and inspiration. 

Next up for Beavercreek will be a trip to the Nike Cross Midwest Regional meet Nov. 16 in Terre Haute, Ind. Last year, due to weather, the Ohio state meet was pushed back, and Beavercreek did not get a chance to attend NXR as a team. Russ said the team is excited and looking forward to the opportunity. 

“Their workouts are so good right now, they are so much stronger than last year,” he said. 

In the boys Division 1 race, Pickerington North senior Matt Duvall won in the second-fastest time of the day in 15:12.9. St. Xavier claimed the team title with 92 points, edging out Mason (97 points). The Beavercreek boys finished 10th place as a team. 

Shelby senior Caleb Brown, DyeStat's No. 21 individual, continued his impressive fall campaign on Saturday as he won the Division 2 title in a time of 15:05. Brown just missed the course record, but did break the Division 2 record of 15:16.09, set in 2015, by Joseph Bistritz. In Division 2, eight runners went under 16 minutes. Woodbridge won the team title, dominating the race with runners placing 5-6-7 to finish with 37 points.

In girls Division 2, Ella Gilson of Hawken crossed the line first in an impressive time of 17:45.8. Lexington ran away with the team title with 83 points, placing two runners in the top 10.

Derek Amicon of Grandview Heights used a strong finishing kick to win the boys Division 3 title in 15:42.5. Summit Country Day claimed the team title with 98 points.

Catholic Central-Springfield's Addie Engel easily won the Division 3 title in a of 17:47.The Minster girls defended their team title scoring 79 points.

Team Champions

Division 1: St. Xavier boys 92 points, Beavercreek girls 51 points - Results

Division 2: Woodbridge boys 37 points; Lexington girls 83 points - Results

Division 3: Summit Country Day boys 98 points; Minster girls 79 points - Results