After a muddy Tiffin Course last week left the Pirates a bit behind pace, Coach Blair knew what she had to do. Seeing the potential that the team possessed, she pushed them hard all week and set high expectations for the race. After the intense week of training, the Pirates were ready and able to conquer the competition at the O-G Blue/Gold Invitational on Saturday.

In the Gold Division, the Pirates beat all except Spencerville, a team ranked 7th in the state in the Cross Country Coach's poll, who scored only 51 points. Bluffton's 122 points were good for runner-up honors, narrowly beating Tinora's 126 points. Bluffton rivals Kalida and Pandora-Gilboa placed 6th (155) and 7th (161), respectively.

Hannah Chappell-Dick won the race individually with a PR (Personal Record) of 19:14.90. Kalida junior Jessica Doepker, also in her second season of cross country, was next across the line in a SB (Season Best) 19:26.67. Leading Spencerville's charge to the crown was Kacie Mulholland, a freshman, who finished 6th in 20:53.00.

Bluffton junior Julie Althaus was second for Bluffton, hitting 10th in 21:24.03 (SB), twenty seconds faster than last year at this time. Sophomore Morgan Humphreys rounded out the top three, placing 27th in a strong 22:23.

Bluffton's next group of runners pounded in consistently, placing 49th, 59th, and 69th. Respectively, these athletes were Audrey Marshall (23:25.60), Haley Keller (23:43.00), and Delaney Reineke (24:13.23).
Courtney Barnett had a big day for the Pirates, with a PR of over a quarter minute, placing 77th in 24:43.48.

Adel Sommers was close behind in 82nd with 24:51.25. Morgan Shroeder placed 101st with a time of 26:00.45.

Napoleon Captured the Blue Division team title, while the individual crown was placed on Taylor Vernot, a freshman from Wauseon, who ran 19:23.97.

Bluffton Boys Run Personal Best Times
Junior Jonathan Nisly led the Bluffton boys and started the personal record-setting trend on Saturday, powering through a lightening fast third mile to place 25th in 18:03, a 12 second PR. St. Henry's junior Aaren Hemmelgarn won the Gold Division race in an impressive 16:39.03, leading his team to the title as well.

Alan Childs, just a sophomore, placed 66th in 19:22.37, only a few seconds shy of a PR. Stefan Stechschulte had quite a day for the Pirates. He found strength he didn't know he possessed and took nearly two minutes off his previous fastest time, placing 140th in 21:18.26.

Freshman John Oakley debuted Saturday in the cross country scene, placing 172nd in 23:46.07, his first and best race ever.

Van Wert took both the individual and team titles in the Boys' Blue Division Race, with junior Jared Fleming leading in 16:18.25. The Pirates will travel to the home course of Van Wert's powerhouse team next Saturday, September 24th to compete in their County Hospital Invitational.