A total of four teams – Bellaire, Edison and Shadyside girls and the Bellaire boys – will run for state titles in Division III and IV, along with Martins Ferry’s Alanna Williams and Union Local’s Connor Bendo competing for individual titles in D-III.

The Division IV girls will begin the day at 10 a.m., with the boys to follow at 10:40. The awards are set for 11:10. The Division III girls run at 11:50 and the boys at 12:30 p.m. The awards will be presented at 1. Trophies will be awarded to the top two teams in each division, while the top 24 individual runners in each division earn all-Ohio honors.

DIVISION IV

Boys

The Bellaire Girls Cross Country team is headed to the Division IV state meet on Saturday at Fortress Obetz & Memorial Park. Pictured in the front, left to right, are Gigi Kendle, Marley Higgs, Lyla Blazek, Kayla Edgar, Kamdin Snider, Leixi Fry, Paige Campbell, Mattea Brehm, Addison Peters. In back, from left, are Assistant Coach Shawn Valloric and Head Coach Chris Arno.

The Big Reds placed fourth in Region 14 last weekend with 161 points, one behind Garaway. This is their seventh state championship appearance, but their first since 2002. They also made it in 1958, 1966, 1971, 1985 and 2001.

“We discussed needing to be consistent at the beginning of this season. When we race like we are capable, I’ll put our kids up against anyone,” head coach Chris Arno said. “Obviously, we need each kid to put forth their best effort. If those pieces fall into place on Saturday, good things will happen for us.

“As the season has progressed so have we,” he added. “We are not just happy to get to the state meet. We want to make some noise.”

Landen Perdue finished second in the regional with a time of 16-minutes, 7.56-seconds.

“Landen provides the spark for our team,” Arno said. “He’s our most consistent runner and runs up front in the biggest of races.”

The Bellaire Boys Cross Country team is headed to the Division IV state meet on Saturday at Obetz Fortress & Memorial Park. Pictured, left to right, are Assistant Coach Shawn Valloric, Kai Jon Cerritos, Kai Brehm, Brae Schmidli, Landen Perdue, David Gaspard, Keyser Taylor and Head Coach Chris Arno.

Other scoring runners for Bellaire in the regional were Kaijon Cerritos (26th, 17:26.59); Brae Schmidli (36th, 17:52.19); Kai Brehm (17:53.33) and Keyser Taylor (18:41.31).

“Kai Jon has grown as a runner over the season and continues to get better each race. He’s a solid number two runner for us,” Arno praised. “Kai has been a staple of our program for four years. He loves to run and to race and does it well. Brae has been solid for us every race and has been an intricate part of our team’s success the past three years. Keyser continues to mature as a runner and has come up huge for us in some big meets.”

David Gaspard is also a member of the team.

“David works hard to get better and it has paid off as he has dropped a lot off of his time this season,” Arno noted.

Girls

The Big Reds placed third in Region 14 with 117 points while the Tigers were fourth with 134. This will be the fifth time a Bellaire Cross Country team has been to the state championships, but the first time in two decades. Bellaire qualified in 2002-05. It is the first for Shadyside.

“Division 4 in girls is a buzzsaw. The teams that are racing in the state meet are there year-in and year-out,” Arno said. “This girls team has become one of the best groups to ever come out of Bellaire. They are resilient. If one struggles a little, another is there to pick it up.

“For us to be successful on Saturday, we need to close the gaps between each of them so points don’t pile up,” he added. “They believe in each other and work to get better each week.”

Freshman Kamdin Snider continued her fine season with a second-place finish in the regional, clocking out in 18:51.31. That was just over five seconds behind Shenandoah’s Ida Estadt (18:46.39).

“Kamdin has had an incredible freshman year and responds to tougher competition and a big-meet atmosphere,” Arno said. “She now has the Bellaire cross country school record and broke it by over 30 seconds.”

Also scoring for the Big Reds were Kayla Edgar (10th, 20:06.64); Liz Mayer (31st, 21:21.00); Gigi Kendle (36th, 21:41.37) and Lyla Blazek (39th, 21:56.89).

“Kayla is the foundation for our team. She has been solid for our team every meet and is consistent week-in and week-out,” Arno continued. “Liz gets out smart and gives everything she has every step of the race. Gigi continues to get better each race and is a strong finisher, while Lyla gets out under control and picks off runners one by one moving up throughout the race.”

Lex Fry and Marley Higgs are also team members.

“Lexi battles from the start of the race and throughout the course until she crosses the finish line, while Marley leaves it all out on the course every time she races.”

Arno said reaching the state meet isn’t easy.

“Getting a team to the state meet is a tough task. Getting two teams there is a tribute to the history of our program and how hard this group of kids has worked to get to this point,” Arno added. “There’s nothing else like it — 24 teams lined up at the same time, in the same conditions, on the same course. At this level of competition, every person in the race has a direct impact on the outcome. They get no rest for 15 to 25 minutes and we can’t call a timeout if someone went out too fast, too slow, or is struggling physically or mentally. You need everyone on your team clicking on all cylinders.”

Shadyside is making history with its first-ever appearance.

“The girls have had a very good season,” Coyne said. “It’s an exciting time for them.”

Senior Chloe Meholovitch is no stranger to the state meet, however. This will be her third time running at the state meet as she was an individual qualifier twice before.

“She has her sights on the podium, finishing 33rd last year,” Cyne said. She has to have a good day like she did last week.”

Meholovitch timed out in 19:33.99 to place seventh in last week’s regional. She was followed by Gabby Kosky (12th, 20:11.82); Jaylynne Johnson (23rd, 21:00.05); Aylah Albright (46th, 22:20.86) and Bayden Parr (47th, 22:22.13).

“Gabby just had her PR at regional,” Coyne noted. “She is running very well and looking very strong. If she improves upon that PR by a few seconds she could reach the podium. Jaylynne is a freshman that has steadily improved and also saw her PR at regional. She has all-state potential if she improves upon her last PR. Bayden is a strong 4/5th runner that we wouldn’t have made state without. Aylah is the same as Bayden, she is a very strong 4/5 runner that has helped push us over top as a team.”

Other team members are Laken Miller and Ella Weeks.

“Laken has improved each year with us, and is looking to get into our top 5. Ella is just a freshman, but she has a solid future as she PR’d at regional by over a minute.”

DIVISION III

Martins Ferry’s Alanna Williams has picked up where she left off last spring at the state track meet where she was a two-time all-Ohioan in the 800- and 1600-meter runs. In her first season running cross country, the senior has won numerous meets and set numerous records despite not being at full strength.

Williams continued her dominance with a first-place finish in the Region 10 meet with a time of 18:10.95, which was almost 15 seconds better than Claymont’s Kali Wallace (18:23.16).

“That was a good time for Alanna. It was her second fastest,” Martins Ferry head coach Chrissy Lewis said. “She has been dealing with an injury that makes it hard for her to train. She has had it since two weeks before OVAC and did not train those two weeks. So her first race back was at the OVAC and she has limped her way through the season since.

“Alanna is a talent like I have never coached before. I truly believe she would be 30 or more seconds faster if she was healthy,” Lewis said. “She is super competitive on the course. She hates to lose to anyone. This season she has not been beaten in Division 3. Alanna’s strength is her competitiveness. She has great speed and endurance. She does not love running but loves winning.

Coaching Alanna is so fun because she wins. She does whatever is asked. She always gives her all,” Lewis continued. “But coaching Alanna is the most nerve-racking thing, too. I don’t want to get her injured any worse. I don’t want to do things wrong. She is such a unique and talented girl. I love working with her.”

The last female from Martins Ferry to make it to state was Josie Hancock in 2021.

Bendo set a new school record when he ran 15:37.01 at the regional where he finished second.

“As Connor Bendo’s coach, I couldn’t be more proud. I truly believe the sky is the limit for him this Saturday,” Union Local head coach Miranda Heslop said. “As long as he runs his race the way I know he can, he’s sure to find himself on the podium.

“Last week at regionals, his time ranked fifth in the state that day, a testament to his hard work and heart. Connor’s dedication and tenacity truly sets him apart, and I have no doubt he’ll make this state meet a grand success.”

The Edison girls will run for a state title. They are led by Josie Lesnansky. She ran 19:44.61. Other team members are Lydia Krepps (54th, 20:46.93); Leila Cable (91st, 21:45.85); Hallie Westbrook (96th, 21:55.30); Maya Filburn (97th, 21:55.39); Annie Board (128th, 22:31.34) and Paige Somerville (144th, 22:54.41).