Since Monday, Sarah Biehl has been on the basketball court, preparing for the upcoming season, while Jeremy Anderson is recuperating from a bout with mononucleosis.

Fresh in their minds is last weekend, and a sunny, windy day in central Ohio.

On Saturday, the two Fort Frye harriers competed in the Ohio Division III state cross country championships at Scioto Downs Race Track in Columbus. It turned out to be kind of a good news-bad news event for the Cadets XC program.

On the one hand, Biehl earned All-Ohio status as she finished the 5K distance in 23rd place in a clocking of 20 minutes, 9.05 seconds. The first 25 girls to cross the finish line are duly honored at the state meet.

"I'm so excited," Biehl said. "When the race began, I was so nervous. It was pretty intense."

Biehl said she didn't start the race fast but gradually picked up the pace after the first mile, and then more so after the second.

"This is Sarah's first year of running cross country," said Fort Frye head coach Alana Combs, a former Cadet/Marietta College runner. "And, she's still learning race strategy and running smart.

"Before the race, I told her there was no pressure on her, and to learn from it."

At Fort Frye, Biehl is kiddingly and affectionately called "Jack Rabbit" by athletic director Dennis Bahen. Well, near the end of Saturday's race, when the sophomore running standout entered the stadium, she was in 26th place, Combs said, and needed a kick - like that of a jack rabbit.

"I didn't know exactly what place I was in," Biehl said, "and I was trying so hard to get that 25th spot. So, at the end, I did have a kick."

After the race, Biehl said she hasn't stopped smiling.

"It feels pretty good," she said.

On the other hand, Anderson, a veteran of two previous cross country state meet runs, feels just the opposite.

The senior Cadet had lofty expectations going into the boys run in the afternoon, but came up short as he placed 79th overall in a field of 148 in a time of 17:34.28.

"It was the best weather we've had all season," Anderson said. "But things just weren't clicking."

Combs said Anderson's PR (personal record) in the 5K distance was 16:09. If Anderson had run that Saturday, he would've easily been All-Ohio.

"I told him afterwards that it was just one race and not the end of the world," Combs said.

"I know it's not the outcome he wanted, but he'll grow from it. I'm so proud of him and Sarah - and all of our cross country runners."

On Monday, Anderson went to the doctor and had some blood work done, which confirmed that he'd run Saturday's state meet race with mono.

Talk about bad luck.

Last year, Anderson had mono at the start of the season but came back healthy to run at state.

Look for Anderson to bounce back in the spring of 2010 when he runs track and field. Last year, he was a state qualifier in the 3200. He also does the 1600 and 4 by 800 relay.

Biehl will be running track then as well.

Right now, though, after a day of rest Sunday, her focus is on the hardwood.

"I play the wing," Biehl said, "and playing defense is my favorite part of the game."

• Also competing at state at Scioto Downs Saturday was Belpre junior Breydon Gates, who placed 37th in a time of 16:59.32, a personal best for him in the 5K. His previous best was 17:28 at the Tri-Valley Conference meet.

Gates, who trained with Biehl and Anderson, also played soccer this fall at BHS.

This was his second year of running cross country.

Ron Johnston is the Marietta Times sports editor, and can be reached at 376-5441, or at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com