Eighth Straight Trip to State Results in Runner–Up Finish.

The 2007 Girls cross-country team had a season that will be tough to beat. After placing sixth in Div. III last year at State, this year’s team did not miss a beat as they placed second in Div. II. This is the second time the girls have finished runner-up at State, matching the team from 2002. The girls’ team which was led by captains Lauren Peterson and Krista Wilson set many new standards for future teams to try to attain. One new standard was an undefeated regular season that saw the team win seven invitationals and the PAC-7 League Championship for the seventh straight year. Having never lost in league competition, this year’s team extended their record to 84-0 and placed eight girls out of a possible fourteen on first and second team for all-league honors. First team honors included three time league MVP Katie Gillespie (1st), Joy Talbott (2nd), Irene Frangos (3rd), Carolyn Case (4th) and Hannah Lyons (6th). While second team honors went to Ana Lewison (8th), Lauren Peterson (9th) and Brianna Jones (13th). The depth of this year’s team will only make next year’s team stronger as they only lose the two senior captains. However that depth did make for a competitive season as nine girls were in contention for the seven spots that would make up the state team. Heading into the district meet the girls kept their undefeated record intact as they placed first out of thirteen teams. The regional meet was where they would lose their first race as they were runner-up out of sixteen teams. Brittany Fabris made the top seven and joined Katie, Joy, Irene, Carolyn, Ana and Hannah as the team headed to the State Meet. The State Meet has always been the place where the girls usually run their best race of the season and this year’s team did just that, winning the State Runner-Up trophy. Two girls attained All-Ohio honors by placing in the top 25 runners out of 148 total. Katie placed fourth overall to make it three straight years she has received this honor and Joy being only a freshman received her first All-Ohio honor by placing eighteenth overall. With this year’s team making it the eighth straight year qualifying to the State Meet and having an overall record of 206 – 2, they have set an incredible standard to follow.