Bohemia Manor's Zach Laird demonstrated the power of positive thinking. Laird relied on some personal affirmation while traversing the (understatement alert) hilly terrain at bucolic Hereford High School Saturday afternoon, "I'm winning this," he repeated to himself. Laird was correct. The Eagles' junior captured the individual Class 1A state crown while leading the Eagles to the team title. "I feel the race went as I was planning it out in my head," Laird said. "My mindset for this week before was to go out there and win it. I was thinking, 'I'm winning this, I'm winning this, the entire race'. I fell back to second. I led for some of it but I didn't let him passing me get into my head. I just stayed on him and I kept going through my head, "I'm winning this. I'm going to win this'." This whole week I was just preparing myself. I knew I had what it takes in me. It all just comes down to whether I'm going to produce and show up here, do what I need to do."
Competing at Hereford High for the third time, Laird isn't completely accustomed to the undulating topography, but ultimately realized each runner faced the same challenge. "There's a lot I can do to help with these hills but no matter what I do, you get on these hills and it just hits you," said Laird. "It's something you have to battle with every year. It hasn't gotten much easier for me. The only thing that makes it easier is I put it through my head that everyone else has to be out here on these hills. I get through it as quick as I can." Laird covered the course in 16:09, 33 seconds ahead of teammate Alex Longeway. Five Bohemia Manor runners finished in the Top 13 with Grant Franceschina sixth, Logan Seither 12th, and Colin Parker 13th. Ryan Fitzwater was 21st with Luc Bollen 65th. "When I turned around, seeing Alex finishing second right behind me, more Bo Manors in those top spots, crucial spots we needed, turning around to see that got my hopes up for winning this," Laird said. The Eagles (34) easily outdistanced second place Southern-Garrett County (81) with Boonsboro (116) third. It's the fifth state title in program history and second in a row. "To me, I feel like the team title is a lot bigger because it's not just you out there," said Laird. "You've got seven other kids battling in this race for you. We're doing it for each other. For all of us to produce and win as a team, I think it's something great. Individually, I feel great for myself to come out here and win this but my mindset was mainly to do it for my team." The Perryville boys placed eighth in the team competition. Ben Buckless paced the Panthers with an 18th place finish with Brian Keenan 38th, and Casey Brogan 69th. CLASS 1A GIRLS Bohemia Manor was sixth in the girls event. Elle Meyer led the way with an 11th place finish followed by Reagan Goldsmith 34th, Aubrey Preske 35th, Marissa Pixler 54th, Kelsey Meis 60th, Alaine Sliker 68th, and Aubrey Dimaio 76th. Perryville placed 14th with Leah Clark 56th and Gabriella Scramlin 105th. CLASS 2A BOYS Elkton was 18th in the team event. Cameron Spaeth finished 59th followed by Evan Shrewsbury 85th, Tyler Vega 87th, Nolan Clancy 95th, and Zach Nerlinger 114th. Rising Sun was 20th led by Asa Wilson 27th, Cade Milburn 124th, and Jared McKeown 129th. CLASS 2A GIRLS Rising Sun finished 15th. Emma Cease placed 58th followed by Hannah Matthews 79th, and Kennedy Adam 84th. North East's Yailynn Ramirez was 49th and Elkton's Sadie Marra finished 57th. Comments are closed.
|
Categories
All
Archives
December 2018
|