Big Red CC team has talent and youth

PARKERSBURG-Mention Parkersburg Big Red cross country and two terms come to mind-tradition and talent.

The 2008 edition of the red and white will be no different as veteran head coach Larry Games' squad will be led by standout senior Andrea Sall.

"She (Sall) had a nice race at Marietta and had a nice season last year," said Games. "It seems like she's been around forever. We are looking for a lot of leadership out of her."

In her first race of the season, Sall crossed the finish line in fourth place (21:19) at the Elizabeth S. Broughton Invitational in Marietta. But will she be able to compete with the top runners in Class AAA in 2008?

"We'll have to wait and see," said the coach. "That's quite a leap to get in that group, but she is capable of accomplishing that feat."

So are sophomores Tori Boggs and Madison Hill.

Boggs finished in 11th place at Marietta with a time of 22:29 while Hill crossed the line in 14th place (22:50). Rounding out the squad will be senior Kristina Staats, junior Janey Hall, sophomores Kristina Hickenbottom and Jessica Summers and freshmen Tori Plant and Alyssa Skidmore.

The Big Red girls have reached the state meet nine years in a row.

"It's going to be tough (getting back to state)," said Games. "Our region has always been tough and it got even tougher with the addition of Winfield."

While the girls enjoyed a third place team finish at Marietta, the boys placed seventh in the 13-team field.

"They got out slow on Saturday," said the coach. "I think by the end of the season they can be a different team."

Senior Dustin Meyers placed his name out there as one of the runners-to-watch in the Mid-Ohio Valley, crossing the finish line in fourth place in a time of 17:55.

The Big Reds next placer, however, was sophomore Austin McFee in 36th place (19:55).

"Obviously, we need to run better than that," said the coach.

Rounding out the squad are seniors Ryan Archer, Zach Bostic, Thomas Kist, Seth Newberry, Garrett Sandy and Mason Stanley, juniors Wes Cox, Daniel Edwards, Nick Gyongosi and Adam Kiger, sophomores Brady Carson, Jared Collins, Josh Harmon, Shane Kelly and Sam Kiger and freshmen Brice Games, Tyler Stockdale and Brandin Wharton.

"We have a lot of new faces," said Games. "It's going to take us a few meets to see how good we are going to be."

Parkersburg's next home meet will be at the Chick-fil-A Invitational at the 4H Campgrounds off Butcher Bend Road on Saturday, Sept. 13.