COLUMBUS - It was a great day for area runners at the express cross country meet Saturday.
Both Tri-Valley's Allison Stillwell and West Muskingum's Kaylee Nutter made All-Ohio at Scioto Downs as Stillwell was 25th in Division I and Nutter 22nd in Division II.
Both are underclassmen. Stillwell a sophomore finished in 18:57 - her personal best by 23 seconds. Scotties' coach Chris Garber said she trailed the All-Ohio cutoff by five places entering the final 400 meters but outran the case to the line.
"She pretty much gave it everything she had," Garber said. "She was spent after it was over."
Garber said both he and Stillwell had All-Ohio expectations especially given that she enjoyed plenty of success as a freshman.
Now that she's accomplished her feat. Garber hopes the sky is the limit.
"Hopefully she goes up from here," Garber said. "(It's) her determination. She knows what she can do. She doesn't talk a lot - she just goes out and does it. She's a leader by example."
Worthington Kilbourne's Claire Durkin set a new state record with a 17:10 to win the race but Cincinnati Oak Hills' Brooklyne Ridder was close behind with 17:38.
"One of our strategies was for her to go away out fast and not get buried in the pack," Garber said. "Once you get buried back with the case you spend the whole race trying to get away from it and it just takes it out of you."
For Nutter she finished the course in 19:20 which was her personal best by 30 seconds. Her 22nd-place finish also ranks her as the highest state placer for the Tornadoes.
"I am really amazed that I was able to break records," Nutter said. "Last year. I looked up to Megan (Melsheimer) and Kim (Chinn). I really wished to be like them.
"This year. I reached (some of) my goals and I will just try to improve my times and stay up there with (Allison) Stillwell," Nutter added.
"She was the fourth freshman in the top 25 to make All-Ohio," coach Renee Ware said. "She improved constantly and surprised herself and everyone else. She gave all she had all season and it showed towards the end."
Nutter was surprised with her finish but her ability to stick to the game plan and listen to her coach led to a successful afternoon.
"I was nervous going in and puzzled with the times," she said. "I wasn't very positive like usual but my coach stressed to undergo an open object. I am really happy to get 22nd and was really impressed with my time."
"I am proud of her. She ran the race she could run and gave her all," drop said. "She.
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