CAMBRIDGE, Ohio – Standing on top of the awards podium is the dream of all athletes. Finishing a step below drives an athlete to strive for the top.
A pair of local cross-country runners — both from University High — did just that Saturday during the OVAC Cal Pokas Championships on the 3.1-mile sun-filled course on the Cambridge Schools campus.
The Hawks’ Tyler Umbright was runner up in the boys’ race in 2023, as was Abigail Rogers in the girls’ race.
The duo went one better a year later, outrunning everyone to win individual titles.
Umbright, a senior, clocked in at 15:25.88 in holding off Steubenville Catholic senior Andrew Rohde, who ran 15:29.69.
Meanwhile, Rogers, a sophomore, finished in 18:49.98. Wheeling Park freshman Brenna Tipton ran a 19:06.85 to take second.
“The key today was to go out and run like I know I can,” Umbright noted. “I wanted to stay conservative and finish strong. The course was pretty nice, it wasn’t too wet and the weather was pretty good.”
Umbright said he pretty much battled Rohde for the entire race before overtaking him late for the win.
“We were going back-and-forth, but I finished strong and passed him down the stretch.”
“I just wanted to go out fast and do my best,” Rogers said. “I thought the course was in great shape and the weather conditions were ideal.”
Behind Umbright’s and Rogers individual titles, University High won both the overall and Class 5A crowns.
The boys totaled 31 points, as junior Ethan Conroy (16:05.09) and freshman Micah Gainer (16:06.37) placed third and fourth, respectively.
The girls finished with 33 points and had top 10 finishers in senior Adelyn Tager (6th, 19:56.51), sophomore Caroline Ballard (7th, 19:57.42), freshman Roselia Biundo (9th, 20:05.20) and senior Claire Von Boetticher (10th, 20:08.41).
Morgantown High was runner-up in the overall and Class 5A team races in both boys and girls. The Mohigans had 60 points on the boys side and 67 on the girls. Senior Finlay Lorimer (7th, 16:21.07) and junior James Stacy (8th, 16:29.33) had Top 10 boys finishes. For the girls, senior Maraid Johnson (3rd, 19:21.20) and sophomore Lauren Hawkins (8th, 20:01.50) had top 10 races.
Warren sophomore Luke Rettenberger (5th, 16:18.60); Parkersburg South’s Josh Gill (6th, 16:21.07); Magnolia senior Landen Davis (9th, 16:30.48) and Shenandoah senior Jarrett Wentworth (10th, 16:33.34) rounded out the boys overall top 10.
East Liverpool won the Class 4A title; Shenandoah (3A) and Magnolia (2A).
Other top 10 finishers in the girls’ race were Shenandoah sophomore Ida Estadt (4th, 19:28.51) and Shadyside sophomore Chloe Meholovitch (5th, 19:55.04).
Winning team titles, in addition to University, were Edison (4A); Fort Frye (3A) and Shadyside (1A/2A). A total of 204 boys and 189 girls took part in the event.
— Story by Kim North
