Medals were earned and history was made for Oxford High School’s Cross Country Team at the Sept. 27 Waterford-Mott Invitational Tournament.
Shannon Seeley’s sixth-place overall finish of 21:18 not only earned her a medal as one of the top 20 finishers, but it also tied Colleen Lennon’s 1983 run time of 21:18–the 15th fastest among girl runners in Oxford school history.
Seeley described herself as ‘excited? about the record and wasn’t even aware of it until well after the race. Normally, when she runs, she and the other captain, Taylor Dewey, pace each other. But this time, running ahead of Dewey, things turned out differently.
‘I’m used to being second (behind Taylor),? Seeley said. ‘She wasn’t ahead of me, so I just ran. I didn’t push myself to the limit like I usually do and felt like I had a lot more stored energy left.?
Seeley added that she was pleased overall with her finish.
Cross Country Head Coach Ray Sutherland said that about 63 girls and 70 boys ran the 5K cross country course.
The girls? team finished fourth out of nine teams. Their times are as follows:
Taylor Dewey, 12th place, 21:46.
Megan Seeley, 27th, 23:16.
Olivia Hernandez, 30th, 23:34.
Jillian Walker, 33rd, 23:47.
‘While Megan, Olivia and Jillian didn’t medal, they ran very well,? Sutherland said.
For the boys, who finished third out of 10 teams, the times were as follows:
Chase Tucker, 16th, 18:26.
Dylan Smith, 17th, 18:28.
Erik Joergen, 18th, 18:31.
Brent Womble, 36th, 19:42.
Shane Kerbelis, 37th, 19:44.
Alex Smith, 38th, 19:54.
‘It was a very difficult course,? Sutherland said. ‘It was very challenging and hilly. Both teams are really working hard and we’re very pleased with them.?