Lady Patriot runners wrap up great season in style at regional
October 19, 2022 at 6:34 p.m.
For the second consecutive year, three female Union County athletes represented UCHS in the IHSAA Cross Country Regional at Rushville.
Marissa Young, Johanna Nelson and Haley Alcorn advanced to the regional by virtue of their sectional times the week prior.
The weather was cool and sunshiny at the 10:30 a.m. start time - just right for running the 5000 meter course.
Looking forward, the two seniors and a junior prepared for the regional meet with a new plan of action.
Actually Cox had two plans and left it up to the girls to use the one they wanted to use...
•Plan A was designed to help Alcorn get her personal best time under 24 minutes. Her personal best time before regional was 24:15.
•Plan B was for Young and Nelson go all out and try to move on to semi-state.
Young and Nelson are seniors this year and Cox left the decision up to the upper- classmen to decide which plan they would use.
“At the start of the race, I wasn’t 100 percent sure what they were going to do or if they would change their plan during the race,” Cox said. “After mile one, it was obvious they went with Plan A - they were pack running and looking good.”
Cox was all over the course keeping them posted with encouragement and times. He caught up with them at the two-mile mark and was pleased.
“They were at 15 minutes and looking stronger, picking off runners and moving forward,” he said. “Then, with 200 meters left, Haley was looking spent but Marissa and Johanna noticed her falling back a little and waited on her and made her lead the pack. I’m not sure what they were yelling at her, but it worked!”
With Haley out in front, they made the final turn and headed for the finish line looking as fresh as they did at the start of the race.
“With everything Haley had left, she crossed the finish line with a 32-second personal best, with a time of 23:43.1. Johanna and Marissa were right behind her at 23:43.2 and 23:43.3 respectively.”
After the finish of last year’s race, Cox said these ladies ran exceptional today.
“I couldn’t be more proud of three girls in my coaching career, They practice hard and race harder. It was a great finish to the season,” Cox said. “We knew going in that this would be their last race of the season, but we kept things positive and did our own thing. Sometimes you just have to make the best of things and enjoy the race. That’s why today was a victory!”
Saturday’s race left the coach smiling from ear to ear and an updated summation of the Alcorn, Nelson, Young trio.
“It shows a lot of character for the seniors to basically help another athlete in the last race of their high school careers,” he said. “I would be lying if I said my eyes were dry running to find them after the race. Best race ever!”
Savanna Miller, a Franklin Central sophomore, was the girls race winner (19:19) and the first of two teammates who placed first, second and third and led the Lady Flashes to the regional team title.
Centerville’s Lady Bulldogs were the fourth-place team, Richmond sixth and Connersville ninth.
2022 Girls Rushville Regional Cross Country team scores: Franklin Central 20, Roncalli 77, Mt. Vernon (Fortville) 85, Centerville 95, New Castle 153, Richmond 156, Greenfield-Central 172, New Palestine 200, Connersville 205, Rushville 244.
UC girls times: Haley Alcorn 23:43.1, Marissa Young 23:43.2, Johanna Nelson 23:43.3.
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For the second consecutive year, three female Union County athletes represented UCHS in the IHSAA Cross Country Regional at Rushville.
Marissa Young, Johanna Nelson and Haley Alcorn advanced to the regional by virtue of their sectional times the week prior.
The weather was cool and sunshiny at the 10:30 a.m. start time - just right for running the 5000 meter course.
Looking forward, the two seniors and a junior prepared for the regional meet with a new plan of action.
Actually Cox had two plans and left it up to the girls to use the one they wanted to use...
•Plan A was designed to help Alcorn get her personal best time under 24 minutes. Her personal best time before regional was 24:15.
•Plan B was for Young and Nelson go all out and try to move on to semi-state.
Young and Nelson are seniors this year and Cox left the decision up to the upper- classmen to decide which plan they would use.
“At the start of the race, I wasn’t 100 percent sure what they were going to do or if they would change their plan during the race,” Cox said. “After mile one, it was obvious they went with Plan A - they were pack running and looking good.”
Cox was all over the course keeping them posted with encouragement and times. He caught up with them at the two-mile mark and was pleased.
“They were at 15 minutes and looking stronger, picking off runners and moving forward,” he said. “Then, with 200 meters left, Haley was looking spent but Marissa and Johanna noticed her falling back a little and waited on her and made her lead the pack. I’m not sure what they were yelling at her, but it worked!”
With Haley out in front, they made the final turn and headed for the finish line looking as fresh as they did at the start of the race.
“With everything Haley had left, she crossed the finish line with a 32-second personal best, with a time of 23:43.1. Johanna and Marissa were right behind her at 23:43.2 and 23:43.3 respectively.”
After the finish of last year’s race, Cox said these ladies ran exceptional today.
“I couldn’t be more proud of three girls in my coaching career, They practice hard and race harder. It was a great finish to the season,” Cox said. “We knew going in that this would be their last race of the season, but we kept things positive and did our own thing. Sometimes you just have to make the best of things and enjoy the race. That’s why today was a victory!”
Saturday’s race left the coach smiling from ear to ear and an updated summation of the Alcorn, Nelson, Young trio.
“It shows a lot of character for the seniors to basically help another athlete in the last race of their high school careers,” he said. “I would be lying if I said my eyes were dry running to find them after the race. Best race ever!”
Savanna Miller, a Franklin Central sophomore, was the girls race winner (19:19) and the first of two teammates who placed first, second and third and led the Lady Flashes to the regional team title.
Centerville’s Lady Bulldogs were the fourth-place team, Richmond sixth and Connersville ninth.
2022 Girls Rushville Regional Cross Country team scores: Franklin Central 20, Roncalli 77, Mt. Vernon (Fortville) 85, Centerville 95, New Castle 153, Richmond 156, Greenfield-Central 172, New Palestine 200, Connersville 205, Rushville 244.
UC girls times: Haley Alcorn 23:43.1, Marissa Young 23:43.2, Johanna Nelson 23:43.3.