Seymour and Wagner Qualify for state meet
Over the weekend, regional qualifiers Sydney Seymour ‘18 and Maggie Wagner ‘17 traveled to Tiffin to race against other district qualifiers. Their competition was fierce, a tougher group than Head Coach Fred Kieser had seen before. Calling it “the fastest the region has ever been by far,” he cited both of his runner’s impressive race times (Wagner garnering a personal record for herself at the meet) as a result of the other runners’ pushing them to run faster. While in previous years runners claiming a twenty minute race time had a chance to qualify for states, this year running slower that nineteen minutes barred many from continuing. Fortunately, Seymour and Wagner were not among the contenders who won’t be racing in the state meet this coming weekend; both finished within the top ten slots.
Seymour was second runner overall to finish with a time of 18:13. She was able to keep up with the top runners throughout the race, even making a move towards the end of the race to overtake her opponent in first. According to Coach Kieser, she’s improved in her confidence, becoming more comfortable and willing to be a front-runner in difficult races such as this. Her improvement has come from overcoming the mental barriers in her way over the course of the season, which has helped ready her for racing against the top runners in the state.
Not far behind her teammate in 9th place, Maggie Wagner claimed a personal record-breaking time of 18:44 for the race. Suffering from early season struggles, Coach Kieser says in the subsequent weeks since the season started, Wagner’s confidence and fitness have grown leaps and bounds.
“This race was a product of getting better all season. She had to work a little harder and focus a little more than normal to regain her form,” said Kieser.
Like Seymour, she was able to stay within the lead group for most of the race. When the pack split, however, she found herself in the latter part of it. A veteran of the race, the fact that she was able to overcome limitations that held her back last year and finish the race was likely a huge relief to Wagner.
“This race was a product of getting better all season. She had to work a little harder and focus a little more than normal to regain her form,” said Kieser.
Like Seymour, she was able to stay within the lead group for most of the race. When the pack split, however, she found herself in the latter part of it. A veteran of the race, the fact that she was able to overcome limitations that held her back last year and finish the race was likely a huge relief to Wagner.
In the wake of the race, Coach Kieser spoke highly of his two runners stating that “there are probably only 2 or 3 other schools in the state in any division that have two faster runners on their team.” When asked about the upcoming state meet, he was quick to point out that Ohio is one of the best running states in the country.
“College coaches from all the power 5 conferences and elsewhere come to the state meet to recruit. Because of the weather, this season has been one of the fastest ever, so the competition will be unparalleled at the state meet,” he continued. While the meet might not produce the fastest high school cross country race time ever, Kieser was willing to bet that many other time records will likely be achieved.
“College coaches from all the power 5 conferences and elsewhere come to the state meet to recruit. Because of the weather, this season has been one of the fastest ever, so the competition will be unparalleled at the state meet,” he continued. While the meet might not produce the fastest high school cross country race time ever, Kieser was willing to bet that many other time records will likely be achieved.
