Four out for cross country

POMEROY––The Pirate Cross Country team competed in its first meet Saturday in Clarkston.

Pirate senior Kiersten Bartels and junior Bethany Zimmerman, who make up the P.H.S. X-C team this year, finished the 5K course in 42nd and 39th, respectively, out of a field of 53. Bartels' time was 29.28.41 and Zimmerman's time was 29.09.41.

"This is Kiersten's and Bethany's first year doing Cross Country and thus their first 3.1-mile run," observed Coach Greg Sharp. "They both ran very well and ran mile averages a little above nine minutes on a course that extended to the blue interstate bridge and back up the steep hill to the finish line at Beachview Park."

Middle School harriers include eighth grader Abram Klippenstein and seventh grader Dylan Taylor. Klippenstein finished in 49th place, covering the 1.5-mile course in 13:07.49, and Taylor was 27th in 11:15.74. Sixty-three middle schoolers competed.

"Abram and Dylan both ran their course with great times coming in with mile averages in the seven- and eight-minute marks," Sharp said. "Dylan improved his time this year by over 30 seconds from 11:48 last year on this course.  I look forward to seeing what these athletes will continue to do the remainder of this season."