County runners prepare for state tournament

Four individuals and one team from Ashtabula County will close the cross country season Saturday at state.

The tournament is scheduled to take place at Fortress Obetz & Memorial Park in Obetz, which is in the Columbus area.

Jefferson’s Cody Weber and Conneaut’s Ethan Van Norman, in the Division III boys race; Geneva’s Adriana Belconis, D-III girls and Grand Valley’s Sam Steimle, D-IV boys, are the individuals running.

For a second straight season, Saint John’s girls’ team advanced to state in D-IV.

Action starts at 10 a.m. with the D-I girls race, followed by D-I boys, 10:40 a.m.; D-II girls, 11:50 a.m. and boys, 12:30 p.m.; D-III girls, 1:40 p.m. and boys, 2:20 p.m. and D-IV girls, 3:30 p.m. and boys, 4:10.

Steimle, a senior is making his third straight state appearance. Last season, he finished 10th in the D-IV boys race in a time of 16:03.92 to earn All-Ohio honors.

This season, Steimle ranks 16th among regional-qualifying times with a 15:57.3 run at Boardman last Saturday.

“We are excited to see what Sam can do at state,” Mustangs coach Clint Nims said. “He has worked so hard, and has had such a good season. Time to leave it all out there.”

Ansonia senior Bennett Lehman has the best time entering state at 15:21.1.

Balconis, a freshman, ran a 20.16.7 at Boardman.

“Super excited to get Adriana to state,” Eagles coach Emily Long said. “Quite the accomplishment for any athlete, let alone a freshman. Hoping to provide her with a great experience, so that she motivates others to join her in the future. She would like to run a strong race, and set a PR [personal record] for the season.”

Napoleon junior Gwen Hupple ranks first in the division with a time of 17:05.5.

Conneaut junior Vivianna Cellini qualified for D-III state girls race, but will not participate due to a personal matter.

Van Norman, a junior, finished with a time of 16:13.3 in the regional meet.

“I’m real excited for him,” Spartans coach Luke Stecki said. “He’s worked extremely hard the last five or six months. He’s very prepared mentally.”

Van Norman is the first Conneaut runner to qualify for state since Eddy Mullen did so in 1995.

“My goal is to get All-Ohio,” Van Norman said. “My confidence has grown this season by placing well at meets, and running faster times.”

At the end of August in the HOKA Night Invitational, Van Norman set a school mark of 16:33, beating the previous Conneaut record of 16:42 set by Mullen in 1995.

Van Norman said with the help of his coaches, school and teammates, he’s been able to lower his time, set a school record and qualify for state.

Weber ran a 16:27.4 regional race. He finished in a time of 17:04.98 in the D-III state race last season.

Fairless junior Brice Fuller leads the way at 14:49.4.

For the Heralds, seniors Marlee Beacom and Emma Phillips posted times of 19:05.9 and 19:19.3, respectively, in the regional tournament.

Ottawa Hills junior Natalie Nixon notched a 17:15.4 time at the regional, which ranks first among state qualifiers.

Last season, Beacom recorded eighth in 18:45..40 and Phillips was 18th in the 19:02.20 in the D-IV girls state race.