Patriot girls win fifth straight OAC title (10/05/07)

ANDERSON - Connersville placed four runners in the top eight. It was still no match for the Patriots.

Jay County High School's girls cross country team put four runners in the top seven, including the champion and runner-up, to win Thursday's Olympic Athletic Conference Championship hosted by Anderson Highland at Mounds State Park.

The Patriots earned their fifth straight OAC crown with 25 points, finishing ahead of Connersville (33) and Muncie Southside (82).

The host Scots edged Southside 30-32 for the boys title, and Connersville scored 64 points. Jay County does not have enough runners for a team score.

In pushing their run of conference team titles to five in a row, the Patriot girls also earned a third consecutive individual crown.

Alysha Miller, a freshman, rolled to the OAC championship with her time of 21-minutes, 22.79 seconds. She followed victories by Alyssa Johnson in 2005 and Amanda Johnson in 2006.

Amanda Johnson was the only runner close to Miller this season, finishing 14 seconds off the winning pace in 21:36.86. Three Spartans followed, including Connersville's Jasmine Frasher in third at 21:55, but the Wellman sisters then went back-to-back to keep JCHS in control.

Kylie Wellman, a junior, crossed the finish line in 22:20 for sixth place, and Leah Wellman, a freshman, followed in seventh at 22:23. Cassie Laux finished off the Patriot in 11th at 24:24.

Tevan Nichols matched the best time of his career as he led the Patriot boys team. He finished 14th overall in 19:13.15.

Branden Brinton was 21st in 22:19, and Jacob Heitkamp crossed the line in 22:48 for 22nd.

Also running for the girls team were Brittany Burris (12th - 24:30) and Katie Butcher (13th - 24:45).

Jay County's girls also earned the top four slots in the junior varsity race, with Deidre Chenoweth winning in 25:10. Following her were Logan Laux (25:12), Erica Butcher (26:00) and Kristen Selvey (26:44).[[In-content Ad]]