Blue Jays ride youth to boys cross country district crown

Oak Ridge didn't have the experience most teams would like heading into a district race.

It didn't seem to phase the Blue Jays on Saturday.

Freshman Ethan Seyer took second overall with a time of 19 minutes, 3 seconds to lead Oak Ridge to the Class 1 District 1 boys title at Jackson City Park. Oak Ridge will compete in the Class 1 boys race at 9:40 a.m. Saturday at Oak Hills Golf Center in Jefferson City, Mo.

Seyer had the lead until the last half mile when Valle Catholic's Jacob Grass sprinted ahead to take first place.

"I started off real good," Seyer said. "Maybe a little bit too fast. I don't know if it was the mud or what, but I guess I lost it at the end.

Oak Ridge's Ethan Seyer (46), Corvin Schoen (47) and Stephen Bolen (43) chase after Meadow Heights Daylon Davis (51) during Saturday's Class 1 District 1 meet in Jackson. (TIM BRUMITT ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian)

"We've never won a race until this year. This will make our fifth win this year."

The Blue Jays knew they had a good chance of taking the crown if they ran up to their potential.

"I knew if we ran like we've been running, we'd have a good chance," Oak Ridge coach Jason Niswonger said.

Niswonger liked Seyer's patience.

"There was a guy that went out way too fast in the first mile," Niswonger said. "He [Seyer] didn't get caught up in that."

Delta's Seth Blattel and Advance's Hunter Shoemaker sprint for the finish line during Saturday's race.

When asked about his young team, Niswonger said sometimes it doesn't hurt to know little.

"They don't know any better to get caught up in that," Niswonger said. "Sometimes the less you know, the better."

Corvin Schoen finished fifth, followed by Stephen Bolen in sixth, Caleb Elam in seventh, and Garret Light in 18th for the Blue Jays.

Delta also enjoyed a successful meet.

The Bobcats' Austin Seabaugh placed third (19:14), while teammate Zach Riegert came in fourth, just 4 seconds later.

Delta's Dwight Nance competes during Saturday's Class 1 District 1 meet in Jackson.

"I came in thinking I would get about 10th or so," Seabaugh said. "I was ready, I just came up and took third."

Delta coach Gordan Walton was pleased with the way his team handled a difficult course.

"It was a terrible course today," Walton said, referring to the muddy course. "I thought the boys ran well."

Walton admitted that Riegert usually gets the better of Seabaugh.

"They've been doing that all year long," Walton said. "Zach usually is our top runner, but Austin came up and edged him out today. I think Austin stepped up. I was really proud of both of them."

Seabaugh credited his success to the friendly rivalry he and Riegert have developed.

"I think that helped me out more than anything," Seabaugh said. "Just having that rivalry with him."

Team results -- 1. Oak Ridge, 38; 2. Valley Park, 71; 3. Delta, 81; 4. Valle, 93; 5. Advance, 134; 6. Meadow Heights, 158; 7. Saxony Lutheran, 160.

Local top fives

Oak Ridge -- 2. Ethan Seyer. 19:03; 5. Corvin Schoen, 19:17; 6. Stephen Bolen, 19:24; 7. Caleb Elam, 19:27; 18. Garret Light, 20:25.

Delta -- 3. Austin Seabaugh, 19:14; 4. Zach Riegert, 19:16; 19. Dwight Nance, 20:28; 26. Brandon Horman, 21:18; 29. Jeremiah Peikert, 21:49.

Advance -- 9. Braden Bien, 19:31; 22. Brad Steil, 21:00; 31. Hunter Shoemaker, 22:08; 33. Dalton Holderfield, 22:23; 39. Kyndel Page, 23:08.

Meadow Heights -- 8. Daylon Davis, 19:30; 23. Steven Bright, 21:02; 37. Isaac Elk, 23:00; 44. Josh Douglas, 25:13; 46. Devon Webb, 31:05.

Saxony Lutheran -- 14. Rhett Obermann, 19:50; 28. Trevor Mabuce, 21:45; 30. Kris Cook, 22:06; 43. Zach Vogel; 45. Jonathon Olson.