After three weeks of demanding training, the Boys' Cross Country team arrived at Hedges Boyer Park in Tiffin, OH—the site of the OHSAA regional qualifier—carrying tired legs but determined hearts. This week, the team moved up a division, taking on bigger schools and stiffer competition. Despite the accumulated fatigue, they tackled a challenging, fast course with focus, grit, but—most importantly—they tackled it together.
Junior James Johnston '27 led the way with a commanding 16:39.1, setting a personal best for the second week in a row, a testament to months of disciplined effort and 50+ mile weeks. Sophomore Brendan Bennett '28 fought through a sluggish morning to finish in 18:16.3, showing that perseverance can be just as powerful as raw speed. Junior Ian Fleming '27 ran a gutsy 18:42.9, refusing to let fatigue or the course dictate his performance. Daniel Randazzo '27 proved his toughness yet again, finishing in 19:36.9 despite rolling his ankle at mile two and limping across the line.
Senior Rian Arora '26 was a standout, blazing through the first two miles in 11:48 and holding on to an almost 30-second personal best—a performance that reflected both talent and the ability to rise above a tumultuous week.
The team's depth was equally impressive. Junior Leo Wang '27 finished in 20:19.2, learning a hard lesson about footwear along the way, while 4-year senior Victor Wang '26 broke 20 minutes with a personal best of 19:52.1, showing what years of steady and consistent effort can accomplish. He's a model for many WRA athletes.
Yet the theme of the day was camaraderie. The team's top seven athletes (the maximum the van could hold) sat shoulder-to-shoulder for the two-hour drive to Tiffin, supported one another on the course, and finished their races knowing they had done it together—the last team to exit the finish line corral as one.
Saturday's meet wasn't about flawless splits. It was about perseverance, shared effort, and the joy of racing together. These boys ran with some of Ohio's best, learned the lessons of hard work, and demonstrated what it means to race as a team—even on tired legs after weeks of demanding training.
Full Results here:
https://www.baumspage.com/cc/ccevent.php?peventid=40&table=C
Note: Generative AI helped to draft this story based on materials from baumspage.com. It was revised, reviewed and edited by the Boys' XC coaching staff.
