Teays Valley High School Athletics

"You don't have to be great to be started, but you have to get started to be great" -Les Brown The Teays Valley Girls Cross Country team began the season at the competitive Pickerington North XC Classic, racing in the Girls Black race full of Division One teams and highly successful state level programs from smaller Divisions. In the end, the girls were able to put together an outstanding team effort placing 4th out of 18 teams, finishing one point behind Upper Arlington and behind state powerhouses, Olentangy Liberty and Hilliard Davidson. Dealing with the excitement of the first race and getting out quick, the girls displayed a sense of toughness as the girls battled their opponents for the full 5000 meters. Due to some unexpected mud, the girls also dealt with the conditions and the footing the terrain provided. In the end, it was Katy Zang, showing her elite level talent, leading the Vikings, placing 2nd (18:14). Starting off where they left off last year Reese Galinger 7th place (19:05) and Addison Keplar 16th place (19:34) proved to be as tough 2-3 duo as there is in the State. Grace Thanasack, coming off a strong track season, scored 4th for the Vikings placing 24th (20:12) in a personal best race. Julie Charter showed a strong finish and closed the scoring for the Vikings by placing 85th (22:21). Finishing out the displacement scoring for the Vikings were Iris Ardrey placing 90th (22:25) and in her first 5k, Khloe Maxwell 137th (23:52). There were 336 competitors in the race and all the girls who competed for the Vikings ran hard and gave a great effort. The team has a lot to be proud of, but still has work to do to reach the goals they have set.