CAMBRIDGE – Several local Ohio Division III cross country runners took another step towards the state meet by qualifying for the regional meet during district action on Saturday at Cambridge High School.

On the boys side of things, Martins Ferry took runner up status in the team standings with 90 points, which was 47 behind runaway winner Shenandoah. Bellaire finished third, grabbing the final qualifying spot over Barnesville by a single point. The Big Reds finished with 96 to the Shamrocks’ 97.

The Purple Riders were led by regional qualifier Aaron Tucker who timed out in 17-minutes, 42.29-seconds for sixth place. He was followed by Nicholas Miller (14th), Gavin Reese (16th), Luke Hastings (20th), Nathan Luong (42nd), Jacob Theaker (46th) and Xalo Verezarascado 53rd).

Bellaire’s top runner – Manny Garcia placed 15th. He was followed by Kai Brehm (20th), Noak Kenney (27th), Aidan Brady (30th), Brody Blazek (38th) and Brae Schmidli (45th). Kai’jon Cerritos was the other Big Red team member.

Individually, Steubenville Catholic’s Andrew Rohde ran the 5,000-meter race in 15-minutes, 49.76-seconds. He finished nearly a minute ahead of runner up Jarrett Wentworth of Shenandoah.

Barnesville’s Connor Starr placed fourth in 17:18.96, with Martins Ferry’s Aaron Tucker checking in at No. 6 in 17:42.29. The Shamrocks’ Shepherd Richey (9th) also qualified for the regionals. His time was 17:43.92.

On the girls side, Shadyside’s Chloe Meholovitch (7th) and Gabby Kosky (15th) punched their tickets to regionals with times of 19:48.31 and 20:53.93, respectively. Bellaire’s Kayla Edgar (14th) also advanced in a time of 20:47.38.

The Lady Tigers qualified as a team, grabbing the fourth and final spot. In addition to Meholovitch and Kosky, other team members are Val Bolz (35th), Mia Boatman-Salas (44th), Cady Weber (53rd), Laken Miller (55th) and Maddie Ringer (58th).

The regional meet is Saturday at Pickerington North High School. The boys race starts at 10, with the girls running 45 minutes later.

VOLLEYBALL

UL Advances to District Finals

UHRICHSVILLE – Olivia Wortman registered 14 kills and Ella Pietranton added 10 as the Jets soared to the Division V finals with a 27-25, 25-22 and 25-11 victory over No. 4 Navarre Fairless at Claymont High School.

Union Local will now face No. 2 Coshocton inside Geno Ford Gymnasium at Cambridge High School on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Alayna Logan chipped in 20 assists, five more than Delaney Butler. Brooklyn Burley charted 16 digs, one more than Emma Yager, who also had a trio of service aces and a pair of blocks. Laken Vinskovich recorded five blocks and Ameera Saunders three.

GIRLS SOCCER

Big Red Falls In Playoff Battle

ST. CLAIRSVILLE-Big Red’s incredible season came to a disappointing end Monday as the Red fell 2-1 to No. 1 seeded Tri-Valley on the turf at Red Devils’ Stadium in St. Clairsville.

The Scotties (14-2-2) advance to Wednesday’s district final opposite No. 3 seed John Glenn. The Little Muskies of Dover by a 2-1 margin late Monday evening.

Big Red was forced to play the final 15 minutes without leading scorer Bailee Beall, who went down hard on the turf after a successful challenge by a Scotties’ defender and needed carried off the field. She was the second Steubenville player that was injured and unable to return as sophomore Jolee Lombardo was lost for the game earlier in the second half.