Cross country: Perry’s Yingst races for 4th county title

LIMA – After winning his first cross country title in Allen County in ninth grade, Perry’s Brady Yingst focused on winning a few more.

On Tuesday at Faurot Park, the senior Perry star left no doubt as he led from start to finish en route to his fourth Allen County Invitational title.

Yingst conquered the very hilly 5,000-meter course at Parc Faurot on Tuesday, winning a time of 16 minutes, 49.3 seconds. Isaiah Johns of Shawnee was second in 17: 09.9, while Hunter Sidle of Allen East was third (17:15). Shawnee’s Noah Williams (17: 53.7) and Spencerville’s Lanny Oakman (17: 55.8) completed the top five runners in a field of 72.

“This race always means a lot to me,” said Yingst. “I go around this race on the calendar every year. My first few years of high school – I won my first two (Allen County races). Then I thought maybe I could win all four years. I have been waiting for this race all year. Just so I can say I won Allen County every four years – that’s a big deal. It was a bit more difficult this year. But I thought I handled it pretty well today. I’m really happy to have won it four years in a row.

Yingst took a big lead on Tuesday and was never challenged.

“Times have gone out the window today,” Yingst said. “It was about going out, trying to get a comfortable lead and not pushing too hard in the second half (of the race). I was able to go out and extend the lead, right from the start. Then halfway through, I was able to maintain myself. I didn’t care about my time today. I just wanted to win the “W”.

Yingst, who placed ninth last year in the Division III state competition, has performed well this season. Yingst has not been beaten this season. Last week at Botkins, Yingst clocked a personal best of 15:41.

In the final boys’ tag team standings on Tuesday, Shawnee took the decisive victory, beating Allen East 24-73, second. Bath was a very close third (74). Delphos St. John’s (86), Elida (127), Spencerville (147) and Lima Senior (215) completed all seven teams on Tuesday.

On the girls’ side, on Tuesday, Shawnee won the gold medal in the final team standings. However, it was a much closer team race, as Shawnee edged out St. John’s 30-32. Elida was the only other full women’s team on Tuesday. The Bulldogs scored 74 points.

Junior Shawnee Molly Stump clinched her second Allen County title on Tuesday, winning in 21: 04.2. Her teammate Alaina Williams (21: 37.2) finished second.

Ava Milligan of St. John’s (22: 01.9), Emily Durham of Elida (22:22) and Olivia Bockey of St. John’s (22: 53.6) completed the top five for the girls.

Stump, like his counterpart, took a good lead and was never challenged.

“I wasn’t sure how everyone would run, because sometimes it just depends on the day,” Stump said after Tuesday’s convincing win. “I was able to get out (in the lead). I didn’t know if they were dying or if they were unable to keep up. … I just continued.

Stump said his team had done a lot of work on the hills this week.

“We worked on it a lot in practice Thursday,” Stump said with a smile. “It helped. … Just by hovering over them. Sometimes you can plan it – like right after a hill you can step over it and hopefully get away from people. … This kind of work has worked.

Stump’s all-time personal best is 20:11. This season, she clocked a season record of 20:22.

“I’m not there yet, but I hope I can get there,” Stump said.

Stump is hoping she and the rest of the squad can return to Division II status for the third year in a row.

“Hopefully we can get back there,” Stump said. “I think we can do it.”

Shawnee wins team titles

Contact the Lima News sports department at 567-242-0468.