Ridgway — The Clearfield Lady Bison Cross Country team had a 14-1 Laurel Highland Athletic Conference record and did not disappoint at the District IX Championships in Ridgway on Saturday October 26.
Though St. Marys won the team title, the Lady Bison put four in the top-10 to qualify Bailey Jacob, Haley Custaney, Sophia Campolong, and Marlayna Bender for the state championship race in Hershey on Saturday, November 2.
“They ran perfectly. They knew where they needed to be, and they trusted their training in that last mile,” Lady Bison Head Coach Eric Yingling said.
Clearfield was led by freshman Bailey Jacob who turned some eyeballs in the latter half of the season, and Haley Custaney who finished fifth overall.
“Those two are such tenacious runners. They know that their job is to tangle with the top runners on any team they face, and they pull the rest of the team with them.”
St. Marys’ Gabby Pistner and the Lady Dutch took the title, but the Lady Bison grabbed four of the five remaining spots to go to the state meet.
“John Jacob and I talked to a bunch of other coaches we’ve met over the years, and they were impressed with our girls knowing how difficult it is to get four through to states.”
Sophia Campolong and Marlayna Bender qualified for Hershey with a second mile push that impressed Coach Yingling.
“After the first mile they were a tad behind, but we teach them to be second half runners for a reason. I knew with 800 meters to go that the girls behind them were not catching up.”
Anna Luzier, Aliza Miller, and Ruth Wurster played clean-up for Clearfield to secure the second place finish.
“Those spots are just as important as any other. I always tell them that every spot matters, regardless of the race, and even though those two seniors are leaving, freshman Aliza Miller really knows how to run and will help fill their shoes next year.”
Clearfield lost only once this season, to Richland, and had Emma Jacob, Esme Coffman, and Brenna Yarger on the team for all of those races.
“You’d be hard pressed to find a team that works as hard and cares about each other as much as this team has all year. It’s been an honor to coach them, and I’m so glad we get one more race.”
The Lady Bison compete at 10:15am at Parkview Cross Country Course in Hershey on Saturday.
https://runhigh.com/2024RESULTS/R102624DD.html