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Fullerton, Ackley, Caldwell girls to run at state meet

Caldwell’s Mason Ackley competes in a cross country meet earlier this season. He’ll compete at the state meet this weekend. Photo by Jay W. Bennett

BELPRE — Eli Fullerton was slowed down a little bit at the start of last Saturday’s D3 regional cross country run at Pickerington North.

But the Belpre junior standout was able to recover and finished third overall to clinch a berth at this Saturday’s 1:30 p.m. Cross Country State Tournament at National Trail Raceway in Hebron.

“I got boxed in at the regional at the beginning of the race, so I got out of there a little late,” said Fullerton, who finished the race in a clocking of 16 minutes, 06.7 seconds.

At the regional, Fullerton got some payback by finishing ahead of Fredericktown junior Thomas Caputo, who was fourth in 16:07.2. Caputo nipped Fullerton by .2-tenths of a second at the Panther XC Invite earlier this season.

“We were laughing about that after the regional run,” Fullerton said. “He said to me, ‘You got me this time.'”

Last year at the regional, Fullerton finished third in 16:37.6. At state, he placed sixth in 16:45.4 to earn D3 All-Ohio status.

“My goal this year is to finish in the top 3 at state,” Fullerton said.

Fullerton has been first in 9 of the 11 races that he has run in this season. He also set a school and personal record in the 5K with a time of 15:41.7 at the Tri-Valley Conference (TVC) Championships in Athens.

“The top 10 at state all have times under 16 minutes,” Fullerton said. “So, it should be a fast race.”

Fullerton said the course at state is “really flat.”

“It’s a double loop course with just a couple of little inclines,” he added. “Last year, the weather was cold, but I think this weekend it’s supposed to be around 50 degrees. And that’s perfect.”

Fullerton paused.

“I just want to stay with the front pack as long as possible — and not get boxed in,” he continued.

Also competing at state in D3 this weekend will be Caldwell senior Mason Ackley, who qualified at the Pickerington North regional with a 10th place finish in 16.42.8.

“We qualified as a team when Mason was a freshman, so he has run at the state meet before,” said Redskins head coach Dugan Hill. “I think if everything goes well he can be in the top 30 and gain All-Ohio honors.”

The Caldwell girls advanced to state as a team, placing fifth with a score of 138 points. They will toe the starting line at 11 a.m. Saturday.

At the PN regional, CHS freshman Sage Speck placed 14th with a time of 19:56.7 to lead the ‘Skins, followed by senior Chloe McAuley (33rd, 21:00.1), sophomore Calli Hesson (53rd, 21:32.1), freshman Emma Lowe (57th, 21:40.3), sophomore Zoey Crock (66th, 21:48.6), senior Johnna Border (72nd, 22:01.6) and freshman Rachel Turner (74th, 22:04.8).

“This will be the seventh girls team to qualify to state meet from Caldwell,” Hill said, “and the first since 1995. So no one has state meet experience.”

Ron Johnston can be reached at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com

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