PREP ROUNDOUP: Oak Hill Invitational

Boys Meet

Western took top team honors in the 11-team invitational with 38 points, topping the host Golden Eagles (54) and Eastbrook (64), while Eastern rounded out the top four with 105 points.

Eastbrook's Josh Neideck set the pace, and finished first overall in a time of 17 minutes, five seconds.

Western's Chris Love was 22 seconds off Neideck's pace in second place at 17:27. Matt Grider (fifth, 17:56), Christopher Nunan (eighth, 18:27) and Braxton Bagwell (10th, 18:30) all added top-10 finishes, and Kyle Stanch rounded out the scores for the Panthers in 13th place in 18:39.

"We like for our guys to go out conservatively because teams that don't tend to fall back in the end," Western coach Gary Jewell said. "We put ourselves behind the eight ball in the beginning. At the mile mark, Oak Hill had five guys in front of our third runner. Fortunately, it's not a mile race, and our third, fourth, and fifth guys did a super job of moving up."

Ryan Horner led the Comets with a third-place showing in 17:29, and Sam Clark followed in ninth at 18:28. Lewis Duke (27th, 19:36), Quinn Connolly (35th, 20:15) and Luke Kimmel (36th, 20:17) rounded out the top five for Eastern.

"We were pretty happy with things overall," Eastern coach Brandon Mink said. "Our times were not spectacular, but close to where we would normally be place-wise.

"Sam Clank tied his personal record, and Luke Kimmel set a personal record, but in general, the times were slower. But, compared to guys we've been running with, for this time in the season, we're right where I thought we would be."

Jordan Garretson led Peru's squad with an 11th-place finish. Also for the Bengals, Tyler Kintner was 46th, Clint Hazelett was 47th, Shane Garretson was 51st and Ryan Carter was 55th.

Girls race

Sophomore Bethany Neeley is yet to be beaten this year. Tues­day, she topped the field in a time of 20:03, and sister Brittany Neeley took third in 20:47, help­ing lead Eastern to a third place finish with 93 points.

Jay County scored 61 to win the team title, followed by host Oak Hill (82). Western rounded out the top four with 95 points.

"Bethany is doing a great job," coach Brandon Mink said. "[Tuesday] it was windy, and she stuck in second place the whole time. She let other girls break the wind, and with 800 meters or so left she took off. She ran a smart, tactical race."

Emily Wilcox (17th, 22:51), Bailey Pressey (32nd, 24:14) and Cambry Martin (46th, 25:41) rounded out the top five for the Comets

"We expected to be right in the mix in top three," Mink said. "Unfortunately, one of our top five went down with an injury midrace, but considering she dropped out, we did pretty well losing one in the middle of the race. Hopefully we can get everyone healthy again and see what we can do coming up."

Western's top five runners were: Corianne Myer (21:08, fourth place); Krissy Durr (22:50, 16th); Erin Weber (23:04, 20th); Cara Love (23:49, 26th); and Gina Jakubowicz (24:04, 29th).

"Overall, the girls did a really nice job," Western coach Joni McCracken said. "Corianne finishing fourth was a very nice showing for her. She ran an excellent race.

"Overall, as a team, I think the girls are staring to see whre they need to be in an acutal race. They are starting to apply wahat they've been working on."

Peru finished sixth. Keyia McConahay led the Bengals with a 12th-place finish. Emilie Hobbs (14th), Taylor Kintner (25th), Gena Fisher (48th), and Kyia Haidaczuk (49th) rounded out their top five.