There couldn’t have been a more perfect morning for a cross country race. I may be biased, but the Elvin R. King Cross Country Course is among the most beautiful courses in the state, especially with a beautiful sunrise. All the boys came in with different goals for the day, but all had one goal above all else, to run as one. Senior, Clark Thompson, was planning to race his first meet this season after dealing with some injuries throughout the summer and first few weeks of the season. Cross Country x Soccer athletes, CJ Jett and Xavier Clay, started off their busy day at Cedarville before traveling to Bloom Carroll for a soccer game later that afternoon. Dayton Craft, a TVHS junior, also toed the line ready to race his first cross country race ever. After a chaotic week, the boys all arrived on time for an early 6:30 AM bus departure from the high school. A mile warm-up, dynamics, and three strides later, the boys were ready to race after the hour and ten minute bus ride. Reed Henderson led the Vikings through the race, coming through the first mile at 5:11. Caiden Blackburn and CJ Jett came through at 5:53 and 5:59 and encouraged one another to do their best by pushing each other every step of the way. The duo, Xavier Clay and Josh Langley, both came through at 6:24. The next pack was Ryder Sykes, Kyler Lewis, Clark Thompson, Jett Eitel, and Liam Hill. Eli Hilgenberg and Kael Thompson were not too far behind the larger pack. Dayton Craft, Declan Furby, Lane Myers, and Ami Clay rounded out the Vikings, also racing a very strong first mile. The boys had much to be proud of. Some overcame adversities from the week and left it all out on the line for their teammates, some celebrated a birthday, some ran a workout, and after held up signs to cheer their teammates on, but all of them did their best for one another. CJ Jett, Caiden Blackburn, Ryder Sykes, Kyler Lewis, Josh Langley, Liam Hill, Declan Furby, Dayton Craft (first race ever), Lane Myers, and Ami Clay all ran PRs. Finishing in the top seven this week was Reed Henderson (16:59.40), CJ Jett (19:22.0), Caiden Blackburn (19:34.20), Ryder Sykes (20:13.40), Xavier Clay (20:17.50), Clark Thompson (20:24.30), and Kyler Lewis (20:57.40). The boys finished sixth out of nine teams. A major “Thank you,” to our bus driver, the Eitel and Whitt families for providing our Saturday morning snacks, Ian Duncan for taking amazing pictures, and Kellan Durbin, Colt Whitt, Carson Leonard, and Navin Warner for being the most encouraging teammates that also helped getting splits. The Vikings are off next weekend, but will return to the course on October 3 at Olentangy Berlin’s Berlin Bear Den Dash. Official Results: https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/275669/results/1098867