By: Jordan Frantz

The past few months, the Bellbrook High School Cross Country team has been performing at high levels. With the men and women’s teams both having team and individual success, the Eagles hope for a strong finish. 

The Men’s Cross Country team has competed in seven meets. The team has placed: 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 11th twice. The team has been led by senior captain Andrew Bruckart. Bruckart has led the team at every single meet and set a personal best time of 16:31. Bruckart set this record at the Tiffin Cross Country Carnival. 

The Women’s Cross Country team has had just as much success. The team has placed: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 12th, and 16th. The team has been led by sophomore Allison High. 

 “She has been running amazing and set the school record at the Tiffin Cross Country Carnival running 18:41,” head coach Ann Alyanak said. “She has also placed in the top 10 at every meet so far and won our home invitational, The Richard and Iris Black Invitational.”

Not only have Bruckart and High shown exemplary performance, both teams have shown great collaborative success. 

“My expectations were for everyone to work hard and put in good efforts and to see improvements throughout the season,” Alaynak said. “The team has done a great job with these expectations.  We have been seeing improvement throughout the season and the teams are set up well to achieve our goal of winning the league and advancing in the tournament.”

Senior captains Lexi Jiovani and Makayla Skinner hold the team to high standards so they are able to achieve their goals. “My goal is for varsity to go to state,” Jiovani said. “I strongly believe they can make it. They are a really strong group and they have the will to get there.” 

“Last season, our girls team qualified for regionals so it would be really great if our team would qualify again,” Skinner said.

 The men and women’s teams both placed first at the SWBL meet on October 12.