PROCTORVILLE - The month of July made the difference for Chuck Wentz in the month of October.

Wentz, a junior for the Fairland Dragons, saw his hard work pay big dividends as he qualified for the Division II state cross country meet.

Last Saturday's regional meet at Pickerington North High School, Wentz was seventh overall with a time of 17:04.88 to earn his trip to the state meet to be held at 2:05 p.m. Saturday at Scioto Downs.

&#8220All the practice he did over the summer has paid off. He's put some great races together at the end of the season to keep himself in (the tournament),” Fairland coach and the runner's father Chuck Wentz said.

The younger Wentz had a 17:10.00 to place fifth overall in the district meet held at the University of Rio Grande to earn a trip to the regionals.

Also in the boys' district meet, the Dragons Brian King was No. 22 with an 18:48.31 time, Aaron Ward 31st at 19:25.78, Eddie Adkins was 34th with a 19:54.80 clocking, Dave Goodall 52nd at 21:15.66, and Steve Tweel and Chase Sifford 58 and 59 with times of 21:40.20 and 21:55.11, respectively.

&#8220Brian King ran one of his best races of the year. Aaron Ward and Eddie Adkins ran really good times to keep us close,” coach Wentz said.

&#8220We're hoping with a young team like this that we can take the whole team to the regionals. We were only 13 points behind Piketon.”

Fairland ran a 1:36:34.55 to place sixth as a team in the nine-team district meet. Unioto was first at 1:25:45.77 followed by Athens, River Valley, Piketon and Greenfield McClain.

The top four teams advanced to the regional meet.

South Point's Josh Jones ran a 20:53.69 to place 49th , Mark McKee 65th at 22:50.48 and Bobby Burgess was 67th at 24:09.29.

Wheelersburg's Ryan Bell placed 15th in the Division III regional meet at Pickerington with a 17:01.71 clocking to reach the state meet.

In the girls Division II district meet at Rio Grande, Fairland's Kayla McGhee was 22nd with a 23:53.59 time. Teammate Beth Schlegel was 47th as she ran a 25:45.88.

Rock Hill placed three runners. Ashton Brammer ran a 24:38.08 to place 31st, Sarah Hartwig was 43rd at 25:38.05 and Amelia Zimmerman was right behind at No. 44 with a 25:38.37 time.

Ironton's Julie Belville was 49th with a 26:02.96 clocking.