Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

RIO GRANDE — The Rock Hill boys and girls are making for a crowded bus rise.
Both teams qualified for the regional cross country meet during last week’s district meet held at the University of Rio Grande.
Also advancing were the Fairland girls in Division II.
The top qualifying teams and individuals will run in the regional meet on Saturday at Pickerington North High School.
In boys’ Division II, the top nine teams and 36 individuals advanced to the regionals. In girls’ Division II, the top seven teams and 28 individuals advanced.
The top six teams and 24 individuals advanced in the boys’ Division III meet while the top seven teams and 28 individuals advanced in the girls’ Division III meet.
The Rock Hill Redmen earned another regional trip by placing third in D2 with 106 points. Unioto won the meet with 49 points followed by Sheridan with 70 points.
Rock Hill’s boys were led by senior Ethan Miller with a time of 17:27.79 to placed 11th overall. Junior Eli Baker was 15th with a time of 17:36.97.
Junior Jasson Aguilera was No. 22 with a 17:44.65 time, senior Logan Boggs was No. 28 (17:56.18), sophomore Noah Wood was No. 30 (18:00.27), junior Brady Floyd was No. 55 (18:46.38) and junior Nick Blankenship was No. 57 (18:48.17).
Fairland Dragons’ junior Ethan Lafon was 27th at 17:54.21 to advance.
Also running for Fairland were junior Wade Brown (18:32.78), junior Mason Fannin (18:50.10), senior Jake Marshall (18:51.53), senior Zack Kincaid (19:31.90). junior Ethan Stephenson (19:53.94) and junior Spencer Harris (20:49.97)/
The South Point Pointers were led by junior Jared Carter at 19:5028. Also running for the Pointers were freshman J.T. Morroson (25:29.13), senior T.J. Cantrell (26:34.43) and senior Wyatt Napier (27:28.50).
The Fairland Lady Dragons qualified for the regionals by placing third with 120 points. Fairfield Union won the meet with 25 points and Vinton County had 62 points.
Senior McKenna Pannell not only led the Lady Dragons but was third overall with a 20:11.16 time.
Sophomore Emma Marshall (21:24.13) and senior Deanna Hall (21:25.55) also qualified for the regional meet for Fairland finished 18th and 19th, respectively.
Others running for Fairland were junior Olivia Lewis (22:39.78), sophomore Emily Carrico (22:52.64), senior Haleigh Fuller (23:07.32) and freshman Abbe Kiritsy (26:05.66).
South Point Lady Pointers ran a 40:33.30 time.
In D3 boys, the Green Bobcats were fourth with 136 points to qualify. Ironton just missed advancing by finishing seventh with 200 points. West Union was sixth with 182.
“We don’t have any superstars but an incredible group of hard-working kids,” said Green coach Randy Smith.
Senior James Hallam was 23rd with a 19:05.35 time to lead the Bobcats. No. 25 was senior Zachary Huffman (19:12.23), No. 30 senor Tanner Kimbler (19:39.77), No. 34 senior Baley Derifield (19:50.72), No. 47 sophomore Ethan Huffman (20:35.41), No. 67 senior Tayte Carver (21:29.12) and No. 101 was freshman Lethan Poe (22:55.51).
Green won the Southern Ohio Conference cross country championship this season, its second straight league title and third in four years.
Leesburg Fairfield won the district meet with 33 points followed by Trimble with 79 and Belpre with 99 points.
Advancing for Ironton was sophomore William Harrison who was 22nd with a 19:04.46 clocking. Senior Ethan Wilson just missed a regional berth by running 19:20.50 to place No. 26.
Ironton’s other runners were senior John Higgins (20:47.88), junior Ben Chapman (21:16.36), sophomore Matthew Sexton ((21:22.86), senior Wesley Monroe (21:30.11) and sophomore Ryan Ashley (21:33.18).
Coal Grove Hornets’ runners were freshman Jeffrey Sparks (20:42.36), junior Dylan French (21:49.67) and junior Colton Kuhn (24:15.65).
Symmes Valley Vikings’ runners were junior Gabe Smith (21:31.24), freshman Caden Brammer (22:54.39), sophomore Drew Scherer (23:28.07) and junior Thaxton Salyers (23:51.96).
In girls’ D3, the Rock Hill Redwomen were third with a 114 total to advance. Peebles won the meet with 78 points and Reedsville Eastern had 105.
The Coal Grove Lady Hornets also just missed advancing by placing eighth with 198 points. West Union was seventh with 185.
Sophomore Camryn Miller was fourth overall to lead the Redwomen with a 21:06.60 time. Sophomore Bella Stevens was No. 14 with a 22:06.28 time and No. 15 was freshman Brooklyn Scythes (22:20.47).
Other runners for Rock Hill were freshman Ashlie Howard (25:14.08), freshman Ellen Jane Heaberlin (25:20.40), freshman Tru Pancake (25:44.45) and sophomore Mia Gannon (39:07.11).
Freshman Kylee Thomas ran a 23:11.21 to place 22nd and junior Sarah Cecil No. 25 at 23:16.19 to advance.
Missing advancing by one spot for Coal Grove was freshman Abbey Hicks at 23:22.32.
Others running for Coal Grove were freshman Elli Holmes (24:25.61) and freshman Kaylee Harris (36:43.50).
Junior Graci Davis was No. 50 to lead Ironton with a 24:53.53 clocking.
Next for Ironton were junior Callie Thacker (28:21.42), senior Erica Collins (29:44.96), sophomore Lilly Zornes (30:15.42), senior Loralei Griffiths (30:31.64), senior Alaina Gleichauf and junior Abigail Patterson (33:26.05).
Symmes Valley Lady Vikings’ sophomore Isabelle Carpenter ran a 31:37.81.
Running for the Green Lady Bobcats were sophomore Tori Ratliff who was No. 52 (25:08.79), senior Megan Johnson (26:33.56), senior Peytan Gafney (28:18.80), senior Kori Derifield (30:15.83) and freshman Kaylee Christian (34:04.85).