Sunday, October 31, 1999
Ludlow surprises rest of Region
Tight pack helps Panthers
BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer contributor
CRITTENDEN — Few paid attention to Ludlow before Saturday's Class A Third Region meet.
People will be watching from now on. The Panthers shocked two-time defending state champion St. Henry 33-52 at Grant County Park. Walton-Verona finished third behind sophomore Elizabeth Vest, who won the race, and state No.1 Bishop Brossart was fourth.
The majority of fans may not have predicted Ludlow among the top teams, but Panthers coach Shaun Pawsat was not surprised with Saturday's results.
“At the (Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference) meet we were 17 points behind Brossart and 15 behind St. Henry,” Pawsat said. “(At the) Meet of Champions last week, we were closer to both teams. ... It was a matter of moving our fourth, fifth and sixth runners into the Brossart pack.”
Actually, Ludlow created its own pack. Junior Pam Gerkin was second behind Vest; junior Ashley Pence was fourth; sixth-grader Camille Gulick was sixth; sixth-grader Eileen Malone was 10th, and eighth-grader Beth Hall was 11th.
Pence was the key: Saturday was one of the few times she had not split her schedule between cross country and soccer.
“I just knew our team needed me,” Pence said. “I play soccer ... and I hadn't been going to cross country practice.”
Winning the region has Ludlow thinking of contending for the state title next week.
“I think we have a good chance if we run like we did (Saturday),” Pence said.
Class AA
Lloyd cross country coach Jam Stryffeler could see a strong showing as far back as the NKAC three weeks ago. The Juggernauts backed up Stryffeler's prediction by upsetting state No.3 Highlands 42-48 for the Fourth Region championship.
“We were one piece away,” Stryffeler said. “We had first through fourth. We needed No.5.”
Lloyd sophomore Britt Rodgers took third overall behind Lexington Catholic senior Ashley Jackson and Highlands senior Cameron Nienaber. Following Rodgers were freshman Jenni Marshall in sixth, eighth-grader Heather Griffin in ninth, sophomore Brittany McCarthy in 10th and sixth-grader Sondra Nieporte in 13th.
Class AAA
Defending state champion Scott is saving its best races for last. The Eagles edged state No.1 Notre Dame 31-35, though Pandas Meghan Crowe and Stephanie Little finished first and second.
Scott won by keeping its five runners together near the front of the field. Freshman Lauren Crook was third with a time of 20:27.5, and it took just another 44.8 seconds for the next four Eagles to finish.
Top four teams and top seven individuals qualify for state meet Oct. 6 at the Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington
Class A
Team scores: 1. Ludlow 33; 2. St. Henry 52; 3. Walton-Verona 72; 4. Bishop Brossart 76; 5. Holy Cross 139; 6. Newport Central Catholic 150.
Top 10 finishers: 1. Elizabeth Vest (Walton-Verona), 20:30.5; 2. Pam Gerkin (Ludlow), 20:43.80; 3. Chrissy Cummings (St. Henry), 20:44.8; 4. Ashley Pence (Ludlow), 21:16.4; 5. Allison Vest (Walton-Verona), 21:18.0; 6. Camille Gulick (Ludlow), 21:21.3; 7. Erica Johnson (Bishop Brossart), 21:26.7; 8. Lauren Chapman (Walton-Verona), 21:28.9; 9. Bridget Messer (St. Henry), 21:39.7; 10. Eileen Malone (Ludlow), 21:46.7
Other state qualifiers: 18. Abbey Winterberg (Holy Cross), 22:44.2; 22. Erica Bertke (NewCath), 23:06.50; 24. Katie Walsh (NewCath), 22:38.2; 25. Rosie Arlinghaus (Holy Cross), 23:38.9; 29. Autumn Jadwin (Bellevue), 24:03.3; 30. Jessica Bokelman (Villa Madonna), 24:38.1; Joanna Bess (Maysville St. Patrick), 24:42.7.
Class AA
Team scores: 1. Lloyd 42; 2. Highlands 48; 3. Frankfort Western Hills 60; 4. Lexington Catholic 129; 5. Newport 142; 6. Grant County 147; 7. Henry County 172; 8. Pendleton County 176; 9. Franklin County 227.
Top 10 finishers: 1. Ashley Jackson (Lex. Catholic), 20:17.7; 2. Cameron Nienaber (Highlands), 20:31.0; 3. Britt Rodgers (Lloyd), 20:43.9; 4. Devon Bryant (Western Hills), 20:52.7; 5. Sara Jackson (Western Hills), 21:01.6; 6. Jenni Marshall (Lloyd), 21:15.0; 7. Ashley Jones (Highlands), 21:22.50; 8. Jessie Barth (Highlands), 21:25.10; 9. Heather Griffin (Lloyd), 21:26.7; 10. Leesa Unger (Western Hills), 21:27.2.
Other state qualifiers: 12. Christina Jones (Newport), 21:55.80; 18. Jacqulynn Ammer (Grant County), 22:34.0; 19. Cindy Hutchinson (Pendleton Co.), 22:35.1; 20. Kristi Kachler (Mason Co.), 22:39.1; 21. Amber Hutchison (Pendleton Co.), 22:40.7; 22. Chandra Roseberry (Franklin Co.), 22:42.9; 23. CarmaRita Webb (Henry Co.), 22:50.2.
Class AAA
Team scores: 1. Scott 31; 2. Notre Dame 35; 3. Campbell County 68; 4. Boyd County 113; 5. Boone County 156; 6. Ryle 180; 7. Dixie Heights 184; 8. Harrison County 208; 9. Simon Kenton 230.
Top 10 finishers: 1. Megan Crowe (Notre Dame), 19:56.5; 2. Stephanie Little (Notre Dame), 20:09.6; 3. Lauren Crook (Scott), 20:27.5; 4. Jessica Biedenbender (Scott), 23:33.7; 5. Erin Bunting (Campbell Co.), 20:42.9; 6. Katie Keller (Notre Dame), 20:48.0; 7. Jennifer Wilson (Scott), 20:48.6; 8. Crystal Brefeld (Scott), 20:49.5; 9. Tomika Williams (Ashland Paul Blazer), 21:09.9; 10. Brittany Metzger (Scott), 21:12.4.
Other state qualifiers: 20. Angie Martin (Boone Co.), 22:07.5; 24. Maggie Zilliox (Boone Co.), 22:36.6; 25. Brittany Ross (Ryle), 22:59.6; 28. Renee Causey (Harrison Co.), 23:23.3; 29. Dana Smith (Boone Co.), 23:16.2; 30. Jennifer Sproehnle (Simon Kenton), 23:32.1.
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