Indians happy to be at regional

The Indians are used to running in the postseason.

The Tribe has run at the regional meet and advanced to the state finals the past four seasons.

With four key athletes graduating from a year ago, it would be a tall task to make it a fifth consecutive trip. Moving to a new regional that only lets three teams and 12 individuals out makes it an even bigger ask. Adding in four ranked teams ranked in the top-10 of Division III also hurts the Indians’ odds at a fifth straight trip to Fort Obetz.

Yet, with the odds against them and the pressure taken off, the Tribe runners will lace up their spikes, put on their bibs and look to give it their all this weekend.

The Fort Recovery High School girls cross country team, along with Reese Diller from the boys team, will race in the OHSAA Division III Southwest Regional 12 at Troy High School on Saturday.

To reach the regional meet, the Indians needed to finish in the top seven teams at the district meet at Cedarville on Oct. 19. A score of 178 secured the seventh place, the final spot, in the regional. For Reese Diller to make the regional, he had to place in the top-28 finishers not on qualifying teams. Coming in 27th overall with a time of 17 minutes, 23.02 seconds, made that mark. (He claimed the 12th spot.)

The barriers to make the regional last year were more relaxed in the Northwest District, as 23 teams and 92 individuals qualified across the regionals.

“I’m really proud of the kids for stepping up because it would have been easy to fold knowing that it was a harder course than what we’ve had previously at district and just knowing we’re in a more challenging district team wise,” said coach Christy Diller. “We just want the kids going out there and racing. We’re probably seeded anywhere from seventh to ninth, so not top three. The teams that are seeded ahead of us, routinely place in the top three to five at state, so we know that’s a very tall ask.

“The goal this week is just going to be talking to them about racing. Put a good race together, focus on controlling what you can control and not worrying about times. … The goal is always for them to be happy and not have regrets.”

Among the 11-team field are four teams ranked in the state and one more receiving votes. Madeira, Summit Country Day, West Liberty Salem and Fort Loramie are all ranked third through sixth in Division III, while Botkins finished 17th in the voting.

Diller follows in the footsteps of recent graduate Trevor Heitkamp by competing as an individual alongside the girls. To advance to the state tournament, the sophomore would need to place within the top-12 finishers not already on advancing teams.

Outside of Diller’s 17:23.02 at the district, his career best time came at the Troy Twilight, albeit a slightly different course at Troy High School, with a 16:24.00. Rather than aiming for a particular time, he will be focused more on the placement of his competitors.

“I run better when I run for a place,” Diller said. “I don’t do great when I get too focused on the time. … I’m pretty much happy just that I made it. If I run a similar time this week and place well, that’s fine with me.”

Seniors Joelle Kaup and Anna Roessner also ran some of their best times at Troy. Kaup ran her career best time of 20:11.7 at the meet, while Roessner’s 22:07.4 was her third best performance of the season.

Fort Recovery also recently got Makenna Huelskamp back after suffering an injury during the basketball season. She has finished third in all three meets she’s competed in, behind Kaup and breakout freshman Riley Heitkamp.

Maddie Heitkamp is likely to round out the Indians’ scoring, with Kendall Ranley and Nicole Braun filling in the sixth and seventh spots.

After competing at the regional and state level three times, Kaup is just looking to enjoy what could be her final race. (To make it out as an individual, she would need to place in the top 16 runners not on advancing teams.)

One goal she has set is aiming to meet her previous career best time.

“It’s kind of the nothing to lose type of thing,” Kaup said. “We’re all very self aware it’ll be hard to make it to state. It’s my very last race and everyone’s last race of the season, so we’ll see what happens. …

“I’m trying to place decently high, but not set my expectations too high. I want a good time for my last race … hopefully my best one and all of my best times are at Troy so it’s realistic.”