Marion Harding’s boys’ cross country squad officially clinched their first Mid Ohio Athletic Conference (MOAC) championship in 21 years on October 17, locking it down on their home course. This wasn’t just some lucky break, though; the team felt this was coming all season long, with coach Bob Peters saying they made it “a point to win the conference this year” and came in “locked-in on this meet.”
The Championship Hustle Was Real
The Presidents nailed the championship, racking up 46 points to narrowly beat out Ontario’s 55 and Shelby’s 78. That’s a tight margin, showing just how much every runner mattered. Other teams rounded out the top spots, with Pleasant taking fourth with 103, Highland at 105, River Valley at 110, and Galion at 215. This wasn’t just their first league crown in over two decades; it was also their first *ever* in the MOAC. Coach Peters wasn’t shy about the pressure, admitting there was “a lot of stress coming into this meet because they wanted it so bad.” He talked about telling the guys it was “just another race” but emphasized they “really worked this whole season for this moment.” And when the results were announced, watching Ontario get called for second, the team knew it was theirs. Peters loved seeing them “get rewarded for their work they’ve done for this year.” You can feel the weight of that 21-year wait finally lifting.
Every Step Counted For These Champs
The boys’ victory was a full team effort, with some serious individual performances pushing them over the top. Andrew Tackett led the charge, finishing an impressive third overall with a time of 16 minutes, 48 seconds. Right on his heels was Jackson Peters, grabbing fourth place at 16:58. Owen McCombs wasn’t far behind, taking sixth in 17:15. Franklin Weaver secured 13th place with a 17:50, while Deacon Durain came in 22nd at 18:34. Luke Estrada and Trenton Estrada rounded out the scoring, finishing 29th and 30th respectively, at 19:00 and 19:01. Every single one of those times was crucial in stacking up those 46 points. Before this big win, the team also competed in the Ridgedale Cross Country Invitational on September 15, which included Elgin, Pleasant, the hosts, North Baltimore, and Upper Scioto Valley.
Stidham’s Standout Race Points To Future Dominance
It wasn’t just the boys making headlines for Marion Harding. On the girls’ side, Noel Stidham absolutely crushed it, earning a runner-up finish with a time of 19:45. She was just behind Shelby’s Anna Will, who finished in 19:19, and edged out Pleasant’s Madisyn Ruhe at 19:47 and Highland’s Veronica Ballard at 19:53. Coach Peters, who’s been coaching for ten years, called it “one of the best races I’ve seen in all the years,” praising her for how she “came back like that and run as good as she did.” What’s even wilder for Stidham and the Presidents? She’s only just getting started; the coach noted she’s got two more years ahead of her. With that kind of talent and a championship-winning program, you’ve gotta wonder what Marion Harding cross country is going to pull off next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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