Van Wert’s Owen Scott took first place at the Ohio Health Invitational on Saturday in Van Wert.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News/File photo
VAN WERT – Every time Van Wert’s Owen Scott and Ottawa-Glandorf’s Ty Rosengarten toe the starting line, it’s sure to be a battle to the very end between the two distance runners.
At Saturday’s Ohio Health Invitational at Van Wert, it played out like it has many times before.
Throughout the entire 5,000-meter cross country race on the grounds of the Ohio Health Van Wert Hospital and Van Wert Reservoirs, Scott and Rosengarten were inseparable.
In the end, Scott managed to cross the finish line first in 15 minutes, 44.5 seconds, while Rosengarten finished a very close second in 15:44.6. New Haven’s (Ind.) Bryan Garcia (16:05.6), Van Wert’s Drew Laudick (16:38) and Minster’s Nick Prenger (16:48.4) rounded out the top five placers. There were 178 finishers in the boys’ race.
Rosengarten has defeated Scott twice this season.
At last year’s Division II state cross country meet as juniors, Scott finished in fifth place, while Rosengarten came in ninth.
“Me and Ty actually kind of planned this (race strategy) a couple days ago,” Scott said with a grin. “We said that he was going to take the first mile because he’s got a good start. I was going to push the second mile. We were kind of going to push it back and forth on the third mile, and then kick it out. But we did not follow that. We never do.
“We both know people that are battling cancer in our communities. So, with about 800 (meters left), we decided to just finish together. This is more than just about us.”
Added Rosengarten, “The plan was supposed to be – I lead the first (mile), he leads the second and then we fight the third. But coming through the first mile, we came through a little slow. With the (very warm) weather conditions today, and us both knowing people who are battling cancer in our communities, we decided it would be a good symbol if we came through (the finish line) together.”
Van Wert won the boys’ team title on Saturday with 47 points, compared to second-place Lincolnview’s 90 points. Crestview (98), Minster (113) and Anna (140) rounded out the top five teams in a field of 14.
Van Wert’s pack of runners were tight on Saturday. Rounding out the top five runners (scorers) for the Cougars behind Scott included Drew Laudick (fourth, 16:38), Harrison Sloan (13th, 17:34.8), Johan Gemmer (14th. 17:38.3) and Quintin Parrish (15th, 17:38.8).
“That’s been something, especially with those four guys – my third through sixth guys – just really focusing on staying together, competing together, and closing that gap with one another,” Van Wert coach Kim Laudick said. “They continue to do that in practice. They’re right there with each other and pushing each other. When they get in a race, they continue to make those strides. I’ll take that, and I’m super excited for them and excited to see how things progress this season.”
On the girls’ side, Ottawa-Glandorf won the team title, defeating second-place Lincolnview 47-62. Wapakoneta (108), Van Wert (123) and Shawnee (139) rounded out the top five teams in a field of 13.
O-G senior Anna Buddelmeyer got out to the early lead and pulled away for a convincing victory in a time of 18:49.6. Lincolnview’s Brynleigh Moody was a distant second in 19:50.1. Van Wert’s Symphony Schuerman (19:51.2), Fort Wayne Canterbury’s Promyse Williams (20:07.4) and Wapakoneta’s Gaby Muller (20:20.4) rounded out the top five finishers.
Buddelmeyer said it was a challenge to stay focused after she gapped the field of runners, early on.
“It’s definitely a lot different than what I’m used to,” Buddelmeyer said. I felt like it was hard to push myself. It seemed slow, and I didn’t have the motivation to pick it up like I usually do when I have other girls around me. But it ended up being OK.
“It was just a matter of hanging on and trying not to slow down because I knew if I did drop the pace that I could still win. … So, that part was difficult. I was trying to focus on other things. So, I was thinking about the team and other stuff. Like before the race, we were all talking about just being grateful that we are out here because I feel like it’s so easy to be like. ‘It’s tough to run’. So, we just need to be grateful to have opportunities like this.”
Buddelmeyer placed sixth at last year’s Division II state cross country meet.
Rounding out Saturday’s scorers for O-G behind Buddelmeyer were Brea Recker (sixth, 20:30.4), Izzy Utendorf (ninth, 20:47.4), Liana Fortman (13th, 21:21.5) and Carly Siefker (18th, 21:40.9). There were 112 finishers.
O-G coach James Rader was pleased with the performance of his pack of runners on Saturday.
“There were a couple girls last week that were a little sick, and it just didn’t quite go our way. Today, they really stepped it up and got back to where we have been, looking fresh and looking competitive,” he said.
**Complete results from the Ohio Health Invitational can be found on finshtiming.com.
