Eight members of the Highland Middle School Cross Country Team extended their season by four weeks and traveled to Evansville, Ind. to compete in the Cross Country Coaches Youth National Championship on Nov. 19. These athletes qualified from their performance at the Middle School State meet in Hilliard, and the Regional Qualifying meet in Hudson.

Kyrsten LeMassena competed in the girls’ 11/12-year-old race while Daylen Madison ran in the boys 11/12-year-old bracket. In this age division, the race is a 3K (1.86 miles). Daylen finished 17th for 12-year-olds, with this bracket having over 300 runners.

The other six runners competed as a team in the girls’ 13/14-year-old age bracket. Their race was a 4K (2.49 miles). This group was made up of Madelynn Madison, Elissa Scheel, Kaylee Mullen, Emma Cox, Melissa Bearer, and Lauren Paulus. Out of 22 complete teams, Highland finished seventh. All teams ahead of them were club teams, while Highland was the first team with all runners from the same middle school.

Top finishers in this older group were Elissa Scheel for 13-year olds, 17th with a time of 15:56; and Kaylee Mullen, 23rd for 14-year olds running a 16:07. Finally, Madelynn Madison ran a 14:58 and placed second for 14-year olds, and second overall in the division. Maddie became the Cross Country Coaches National Youth Championship Runner Up. It was a very tight race throughout for the top six runners. With 600 meters to go, Maddie moved from the No. 2 spot she held throughout most of the race to sixth.

She waited slightly to start her surge and passed four girls in the home stretch to finish 3 seconds off first place.

These athletes have been coached throughout their season by Coach Robert Berry.