Walsh Jesuit runner competes at Scioto Downs

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by Frank Aceto

Associate Sports Editor

It's only natural to have a few butterflies when you're about to run the biggest race of your life.

Walsh Jesuit girls cross country head coach Rose Mathie, however, might have been a little concerned about the nerves of her sophomore pupil, Jamie Neal.

"Jamie was really nervous when she got to the starting line," Mathie said. "She was scared to death."

Once the race started, those nerves faded away.

Neal, a Tallmadge resident, finished 63rd out of 147 runners with a time of 20 minutes, 37.45 seconds at the Division II state meet Nov. 1 at Scioto Downs in Columbus.

"I was so nervous," Neal said. "I guess it was because it was the first time I'd ever been [to the state meet]. Once the race started, it kind of went away."

Neal finished 12th with a clocking of 19:31 during a regional meet the previous week at GlenOak High School in Canton.

"She just kept improving all season long," Mathie said. "Her hard work really paid off in the summer.

"I told her she was going to get 13th at regionals," she added. "She did even better. Qualifying for states is such an awesome accomplishment for a young girl like her."

Neal's teammate, senior Chelsea Oswald, placed fifth (18:50.57). Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy senior Katie Gillespie won the title. She placed first with a time of 18:00.43. CVCA, which finished second last year, won the 16-team competition with 51 points. Kettering Archbishop Alter placed second with 95 points and West Milton Milton-Union took third (118).

Neal hopes to have more company next year.

"I hope the whole team makes it," she said.

E-mail: faceto@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3914