BUCCS WIN DISTRICT RUNNER-UP, GIRLS ADVANCE TWO

The Covington Buccaneers earned a district runner-up trophy on Saturday. (Photo provided by Josh Long)

CEDARVILLE – The Covington cross country program had a great day on Saturday at the the DIII District Championships at Cedarville as the boys earned District Runner-Up as a team and Asher Long won an individual District Championship.

Due to the number of teams who competed in the race, the top two teams earned district championships and the next two teams were district runner-up. The Covington boys finished fourth in the team standings with 172 team points, which earned them District Runner-Up.

“Our boys ran out of their minds,” said Covington coach Josh Long. “Going into the meet we were probably around seventh or eighth as a team, but our kids ran so well be beat some teams we haven’t beaten all year.”

Asher Long won the race in the time of 16:28.5, finishing 12 seconds ahead of the next runner. Tanner Palsgrove (38th – 18:17.2), Caleb Ryman (40th – 18:18.9), Calub Hembree (46th – 18:32.0), and Preston King (52nd – 18:37.1) contributed to the team points as well.

The girls finished 12th in the team standings with Johanna Welborn and Eliza Long finishing in the top 28 to advance to the regional meet. Welborn finished in 15th place individually with a time of 20:55.4, while Long finished in 18th in a time of 21:03.0 despite suffering through breathing issues due to allergies.

“The girls ran great too,” Long said. “Elyza had some breathing issues, which seems to always pop up about this time of the year. We’re praying she’ll get over it (the breathing problems) by next week. Still, both of them (Welborn and Long) ran good races.”

The regional qualifiers for the Buccaneers will competed in the regional meet next Saturday at Troy.

Asher Long won a district championship on Saturday by winning the race with a time of 16:28.5. ©Ben Robinson/Color Green Photo
Elyza Long overcame adversity to qualify to next week’s regional meet. ©Ben Robinson/Color Green Photo