Three Central runners finish in top five at ND Invitational

Three Central runners finished in the top five, including champion Mary Dohogne, as the Tigers dominated the field on their way to the team title at the Notre Dame Invitational cross country meet Saturday.

Dohogne's win in her fifth event of the season comes only a short time after battling mononucleosis at the beginning of the season.

"It was good to see Mary run like Mary again," Central coach Mark Hahn said. "She really pulled ahead toward the end and finished strong."

As the runners approached the 2-mile mark, Dohogne and Chaffee junior Luisa Boschan were neck and neck as they pulled away from the pack.

Coming into the third mile, the race remained close between the two leaders until Dohogne pulled away as she approached the finish line.

"This was a fun and fast course," Dohogne said. "I'm really proud of the way we ran as a team. We all did really well today. We have been training very hard the past two weeks, and it paid off."

Dohogne crossed the line in 19 minutes, 42.12 seconds, while Boschan finished in 20:01.69. Central's Megan Daly and Jordyn Richmond were right behind the top two.

Hahn attributes Dohogne's success to a "high runner's IQ and physical toughness."

"She puts the right things together at the right time, and she certainly did that today," Hahn said.

Elizabeth Kiblinger finished fifth for Notre Dame, which took second with 60 points.

Team results -- 1. Central, 35; 2. Notre Dame, 60; 3. Farmington, 71; 4. Dexter, 90; Chaffee, 118; 6. Oakville, 121.

Local top fives

Central -- 1. Mary Dohogne, 19:42.12; 3. Megan Daly, 20:32.57, 4. Jordyn Richmond, 20:37.49; 12. Laura Chavez, 21:12.88; 22. Audrey Westrich, 22:11.80.

Notre Dame -- 5. Elizabeth Kiblinger, 20:38.99; 11. Jessica Triller, 21:06.52; 14. Morgan Morris, 21:45.77; 19. Ashley Schmittzehe, 21:55.16; 24. Sarah Mittrucker, 22:23.15.

Chaffee -- 2. Luisa Boschan, 20:01.69; 29. Liz Schlosser, 22:51.57; 38. Sierra Miller, 23:58.66; 39. Randi Wiley, 24:00.49; 40. Sarah Sigman, 24:10.27.

Saxony Lutheran -- 6. Kristin Dippold, 20:45.18; 30. Tori Winter, 20:03.00.

Oak Ridge -- 15. Amanda Lappe, 21:46.17.

Scott City -- 21. Libby Miles, 22:08.34.