The women’s cross country team ended the 2011 season with a list of accomplishments never before achieved at Greenon High School. The team left the school on November 4th , being sent off by the music of the marching band and the cheers of their classmates, teachers, and families. They returned from the 34st Annual Girls State Cross Country Meet on Saturday as the most accomplished cross country team the school has ever seen. This group is the first team in school history to qualify for the State tournament three years in a row, and the team’s 7th place finish on Saturday is the highest finish of a cross country team ever at Greenon.
Leading the team at the State Meet for the first time this season was sophomore Lianne Masquelier. Masqulier placed 37th overall, 36 places higher than the previous year, and ran a personal record time of 19:45. Joining Masquelier in the scoring top 5 were MacKenzie McMillin (47th overall in 19:54),  Mary Wenzell ( 69th overall with a season’s best time of 20:16), Erica Miller ( 76th place, 20:24), and freshman Brittany Kozak( 114th place with a personal record time of  20:53). Senior Sydney Lewis was the team’s first blocker in 138th place (21:46), and in the team’s 7th place was senior Kelli Barker with a time of 22:50. Barker had traveled to the State meet the previous two years as an alternate, but earned a spot on the racing top 7 her final year. At the core of the team are four seniors who have been on all three State qualifying teams. McMillin, Miller, Wenzell, and Lewis were all members of 2009’s 8th place team, 2010’s 9th place team, and now members of this year’s school record-breaking team.
The team also has an incredible record academically, as all six girls who were eligible (freshmen cannot get this award) achieved Academic All-Ohio status. This award is given by the Ohio Association of Track and CC Coaches to any athlete who runs at the State Meet and has a 3.5 GPA. This group of athletes has created a strong running tradition at Greenon, and their influence will be carried on into track season and in years to come.