Neidig’s first-team OCC effort paces Generals’ third-place at OCCs

  • brian questel
  • October 18, 2011
  • 285
                        
102311 OCCboysCC-1 Promo: General harriers finish close third in Ohio Cardinal Conference Cross Country Championships Neidig’s first-team OCC effort paces Generals’ third-place at OCCs By Brian Questel It may have been a championship meet, but the conditions certainly weren’t at top form. Competing on a muddy, slow course hampered further by strong winds, teams strove to endure during the Ohio Cardinal Conference championships at Lexington October 15. In the end, the host Minutemen squeaked by Ashland and Wooster for the team title. It wasn’t the finish that Wooster coach Doug Bennett was hoping for, but the veteran coach couldn’t fault his team’s effort. “It was very close. Lexington had 41 points, Ashland 48 and we had 52,” said Bennett. “I think it was a real challenging course and one difficult for us to prepare for. There were really windy conditions. As a team I think we ran pretty well. Obviously there is room for improvement. We went in believing we could win. If we would run again I think we could have won, just like in a best-of-3. It’s that close. When you are talking about eleven points in a league meet, that’s not very much. “We, on my direction, may have made a tactical mistake and gone out too hard in the first mile or mile-and-a-half. We wanted to win so badly we didn’t run the smartest race, but I can’t fault them. I love the aggressiveness, but with the hills in the first half of the course, we probably should have sat back a little. That’s hindsight, though, and that’s always 20/20. “It was not a day to run for time because of the hills and the wind. You run as hard as you can for place and we did have some who placed well.” Cody Neidig earned first-team All-OCC honors with his performance, which netted him a time of 17:30 and seventh overall, good for first-team OCC honors. Freshman Kevin White placed ninth with a 17:36, while Zach Humrichouser was 11th as he ran a 17:56. Kalten Walter was a step behind with a 17:57 (12th) while Brock Berlin was 13th with a 17:58. Together all four were all second-team OCC. “It hard to run into the wind and all the hills were tough, too,” said Neidig, who was fourth overall a year ago and the Generals second to Ashland by a point. “I tried to stay with Cully Gordon but that didn’t work. I tried my hardest to pass people, but I’m not happy with my performance. I was trying to win, but I couldn’t keep up.” Ian Parry was honorable mention with his 18:12, which was good for 19th, while Paul Wood’s 19:35 netted him 30th. “A complete surprise was Kalten Walter’s PR. In 35-40 mph winds at times and hills, he nearly PR’d,” said Bennett. “He was fourth for us, just ahead of Brock, who was also second-team OCC. Ian Parry was honorable mention OCC, so the whole team minus one was included for all-league honors and we still didn’t win. That’s just the kind of day it was. Ashland and Lex are very good, as is (individual winner) Cully Gordon (of West Holmes).” Gordon won the individual race by one second over Lexington’s Nick Molnar as he ran a 17:08, helping the Knights to a fourth-place finish (92), Madison was fifth (161, Orrville sixth (162) and Senior (208). Clear Fork did not field a full team. “I thought our times were between 35 seconds to a minute off what we are capable of running,” said Bennett. “Neidig ran a 17:30 in that mess and I think he would have broken 17 easily in decent conditions or been close to that. Kevin was a nice surprise. For a freshman to run that is pretty good, and Kalten Walter ran a fine race. He nearly PR’d on a difficult day. “Now we’re looking to move on to (the Division I Malone) districts,” he added. “We have a good shot to get into regional meet. We’ve got to run well and if we do we’ve got a great chance to move on. It’s a deep district. Jackson seems like a lock because they are not losing to anybody right now, and then there is Perry, Boardman, Green and Louisville. We finished within six (points of that group) at Malone, so it will be an interesting race. It’s been a good year. We’ve done what we were supposed to do, which is improve, and now let’s hope it turns out the way we hope it will.”


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