Sunday, November 07, 1999
Colerain team, Anderson's Homan run to state titles
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COLUMBUS — Junior Chelsea Homan gave Anderson its first cross country title, and Colerain became the first Division I girls team to win three consecutive state championships.
Homan, a swimmer during the winter and summer, ran a personal-best 17:53.8 en route to the individual Division I title at Scioto Downs. Her previous best was 17:56.
When Homan crossed the finish line, the 5-foot-2, 90-pound 16-year-old fell to the ground and cried out: “Oh my God, I did it. I can't believe I did it.”
Homan finished more than 10 seconds behind Lindsay Zinn from Lakota East in the regional meet but kept the same race strategy.
“I wanted to come out fast and get in good position,” Homan said. “The start was pretty fast, but I was where I wanted to be.”
Zinn, running with a head cold, held the early lead but started to fade after about a mile maker. At that time, Massillon Jackson's Emily Hahn, who entered the race unde feated, and Homan made a move.
Homan took the lead from Hahn at the two-mile mark and held on.
“I didn't look back once I took the lead,” Homan said. “I wanted to win so badly, and I told myself I can do it.”
“Chelsea's workouts were designed to make her competitive,” Anderson coach Andy Wolf said. “The fact that she won didn't surprise me. She's an exceptional athlete.”
Colerain's Alison Zeinner finished third in the race and first for the team champions. The Cardinals scored 68 points; Kent Roosevelt had 123; and Massillon Jackson was third. Sycamore, Cincinnati's other entrant, took 11th.
Zeinner, who finished 11th last year's state meet, was satisfied with her third-place finish and excited about the Cardinals third consecutive state title.
“It still hasn't hit me,” Zeinner said. “I haven't seen my mom or family all day and when I see them, it will probably sink in.”
DIVISION III: Reading freshman Courtney Engel finished eighth overall, the best finish by a Blue Devil runner since Connie Jo Robinson won the Class A-AA individual title in 1981. Engel, a 14-year-old freshman, had a set a goal of finishing in the top 20.
“I started slowly, but I then worked my way up,” Engel said. “This is a big thrill.”
Reading coach Rhonda Eisenhart said last season was a factor in Engel's success at the state meet this year.
“Lisa came up and watched the race last year,” Eisenhart said. “She knew what to expect. and I think this helped her today.”
DIVISION II: Leah Peelman of Purcell Marian and Alessa Velez of Kings) were 19th and 20th, respectively.
Peelman, a Purcell Marian sophomore, was elated with her finish.
“I went from 82nd last year to 19th this year,” Peelman said. “Last year, I was just happy to be here. This year I came to win.”
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