GALION — Lady Lex packed it up Saturday afternoon.
Four Lexington runners finished in the top six as the Division II poll champ easily defended its district title at Amann’s Reservoir Park.
Lexington finished with a team score of 34, well ahead of runner-up Ontario (82).
Junior Carina Weaver led the charge, finishing second in 19 minutes, 23.99 seconds. Freshman Halle Hamilton was third in 19:27.99, while freshman Joanna Halfhill (19:39.72) was fifth and senior Olivia Wolfe (19:54.60) was sixth. Freshman Lily Weeks (21:10.40) was 18th.
“I love how we can pack it up,” said Weaver, the recently-crowned Ohio Cardinal Conference Runner of the Year. “I hope we continue to do that during tournaments.
“I absolutely love running with these girls. Running with my teammates pushes me to go faster when I think I can’t.”
The Warriors were led by sophomore Grace Maurer, who was fourth in 19:35.66. Becca Gregg (19:56.50) was seventh, while Anna Gregg (20:02.61) was ninth and Ariah Reuer (21:11.51) was 19th. Cori Wentz was 44th overall in 23:06.38.
Shelby’s Makenna Heimlich and Galion’s Airyona Nichols earned individual qualifying bids to next week’s regional. Heimlich was 10th in 20:06.59, while Nichols was 16th in 21:06.95.
Division III: Mansfield Christian’s Carolina Trumpower advanced to next week’s regional after taking second in 19:53.15.
“It was a perfect day,” Trumpower said. “I ran the race I wanted to run.”
A sophomore, Trumpower was a regional qualifier last year.
“I’d like to make it to state this year,” she said.
Colonel Crawford finished second in the team race, earning a spot at the regional meet. Ally Hocker (20:49.68) was third, while Courtney Britt (21:40.57) was seventh. Kari Teglovic (22:05.66, 12th), Hannah Willacker (22:32.92, 26th) and Alison Manko (22:51.26, 29th) all scored for the Eagles.
In the second Division III district race, Crestview’s Brooke Barnes advanced after finishing 15th in 21:27.13.
