By Cort Reynolds
ADA - Eight runners comprise the inexperienced and youthful Ada cross country roster this fall, with two busy runners playing a pair of sports this fall.
Fifth-year head coach Josh Klein has four boys and four girls out for the squad this season.
"We are trying to develop the team and some longevity," said Klein. All four girls are new to the cross country team. Unfortunately the Bulldogs are one runner short of the five needed to post a team score for boys and girls.
Ada lost four key runners from last season, but return three lettermen.
Junior two-time letterman Riley Ferguson is the top returning harrier. "Riley will be our number one runner," said Klein. "I look for him to finish in 20 minutes or sub-20 by season's end."
Fegruson looks stronger and more confident this season.
Senior Jacob Morgan ran cross country as a freshman and sophomore, and is back on the team after golfing as a junior. He will play both sports this fall. Morgan will re-join the CC team full-time this fall after his golf season ends.
"Jacob's first priority will be golf but their season starts much earlier and ends earlier," pointed out Klein. "So he will be with us when he can early on, and then full-time after golf finishes.
"I think Jacob can get down to the low 21's or high 20's (in minutes over 3.1 miles)," said Klein.
Sophomores Connor Daugherty and Robby Waters also return to the team after gaining valuable running experience last fall as freshmen.
"Connor wasn't able to run a lot this summer," the coach noted. "We are hoping he will be in the 25-26 minute range early in the season, and get down to the 23's by the NWC meet and sectionals."
Waters started out running for the Bulldog harriers last fall but had to stop in mid-season due to health issues. Klein hopes the lanky soph can be under 30 minutes in the first meet.
Like Morgan, sophomore Amelia Alexander will compete in two sports this fall. She will play volleyball and is also expected to be Ada's top female cross country runner.
"Amelia is probably our strongest girls runner," Klein offered.
Three freshmen newcomers round out the female roster. Jillian Hazelton, Elsie Allen and Melia Santillanez look to gain needed experience this season.
"They are all brand new to cross country," said Klein. "We want them to run under 30 minutes. We are mainly trying to build up endurance with the girls. There is a lot of room for improvement."
The Ada boys cross country team finished seventh at the seven-team Northwest Conference championship meet hosted at the Van Wert Reservoir last year.
Columbus Grove repeated as boys team champion with 23 points. Lincolnview was second (45), followed by Crestview (86), Bluffton (105), Allen East (133), Paulding (143) and Ada (211).
Ferguson came in 67th amid the field of 95 runners to post the top Ada showing. He covered the 3.1-mile course in a time of 22:13.8.
Daugherty came in 90th at the 2019 league meet with a time of 27:05.3. The average Ada time was 24:03.06.
Grove also won the five-team league girls title for the fourth straight season with 26 points. Crestview finished second with 57 points, followed by Lincolnview (65), Spencerville (101) and Paulding (130).
Ada CC at a glance
Head coach: Josh Klein, 5th year
2019 NWC finish: Boys 7th/7 teams
Roster numbers: 4 boys, 4 girls
Lettermen back/lost: 3/4
Top returnees: Jr. Riley Ferguson, Sr. Jacob Morgan, So. Connor Daugherty, So. Robby Waters
Top newcomer: So. Amelia Alexander
Varsity cross country team
The Ada varsity boys and girls cross country teams, from left, front: Elsie Allen, Melia Santillanez, Jillian Hazelton, Amelia Alexander.
Back: head coach Josh Klein, Robby Waters, Connor Daugherty, Jacob Morgan, Riley Ferguson.
