Sports - High School

Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009

Ocean Springs sweeps 6A cross country titles

Hancock runners take individual Class 6A titles

By REYN PRAVATA

Sun Herald

LUCEDALE — A challenging George County course proved to be quite a test for area runners on Saturday morning.

For those who conquered it and their opponents, it should also be a great tune-up for next week’s state cross country meet.

Hancock High’s Derek Westbrook turned in one of the most impressive performances of the day on the muddy, hilly course when he finished the Class 6A boys 5K route in 17 minutes, 26.18 seconds.

Westbrook tamed the course, which finishing in front of George County High School, 40 seconds faster than second-place finisher Daniel Carter of Ocean Springs, who had a time of 18:06.08.

“The wet clay made it hard to get traction today,” said Westbrook, a junior who was an all-state performer a year ago. “This is one of my favorite courses. It’s hilly and it really gets you ready for state.”

Carter, a freshman, was second, but he helped the Greyhounds race to the boys Class 6A team title.

He had help of fellow freshman Chance Garner, Matt Brouckaert, and Logan Tassin and senior Dominique Belcher.

The Ocean Springs Lady Greyhounds won the Class 6A girls title led by Jade Kindsvater and Karly Tassin, who were third and fourth respectively in the girls’ 6A race, a 4K run.

“It’s a relief,” Ocean Springs second-year coach Tim Sayers said. “Coming in, I knew our girls would be strong, but the boys caused me to lose sleep.

“But they came through and we did it with four freshmen and a senior.”

Hancock’s Evie Savage won the girls Class 6A individual run, covering the 4K course in 16:29.76.

The course took its toll on Savage, however, as she needed oxygen from an EMS following her victory over Biloxi’s Shannen Weyer (16:35.23) and OS’s Kindsvater (16:59.15) and Tassin (16:59.74).

“That was one of the hardest courses I’ve been on this year,” Savage said when she caught her breath. “It was muddy. It was hilly and it was wet. I took out in front and kept the lead, but this is one of the hardest courses I’ve ever seen.”

Long Beach junior Brandon Troub won the boys Class 5A individual 5K race in 18:08.51, and helped the Bearcats claim the team title as well.

Darren “DJ” Koenenn used an impressive sprint at the end to take second for Long Beach in 18:22.78, just in front of Jake Polderman of Picayune, who finished in 18:23.26.

“It was really muddy, but it felt good today,” Troub said. “We enjoyed it as a team. We really support each other.”

D’Iberville won the girls Class 5A team title, but West Harrison topped the individual leaders.

Haley Green was fourth in Class 5A to lead the Lady Warriors with the held of Nicole Fisher and Cassandra Rosser, who were 10th and 11th respectively.

Pashien Kelley-Johnson won the girls 5A title for West Harrison in 17:20.50. Teammate Micayla Everett was second in 17:35.19.