2002outprevswd3

     The top two Div. III girls teams in the state both hale from this regional: Minster and Fort Laramie. They do get a slight reprieve as they do not have to compete in the same district.
     In the 4x800, Minster is the top returning team with a 9:35 to nab second last year at State with their whole team returning. Fort Laramie is right behind with a 9:48, which was good for third at State last season. With the top team, Maumee Valley Country Day School, losing two of it's top runners, Minster and Fort Laramie should be right in the thick of it for the state title. Minster's whole team is back of Becky Luthman, Carrie Seaver, Jodi Wehrman,and Sunni Olding. Laramie returns 3 out of 4 runners with Julie Seger, Renee Bergman, and Elisabeth Phlipot. Look for freshman Megan Meinerding and Junior Morgan Plattner to contend for a spot as well. Versailles returns 3 of their 4 from last years 10th place State team, who had run faster than Fort Laramie at the Regional.   Unfortunately for Versailles, they are losing one of the Krueger's, but will return Trisha and Jessica as well as Jackie Luthman.
     In the 800 Luthman is the top ruturner with a 2:20. After her the only other returner is Kristy Wirwille of New Knwoville. A senior this season with a 2:22 PR, look for her to make a return trip to state. The other two spots will likely be filled in by a Fort Laramie runner and a surprise, if not another Minster or Laramie girl.
      In the 1600, Olding is the returning state champion in 5:00. She dominated the mile last year at state looking utterly smooth and in control while doing so. Her main competition will come from the Fostoria regional and Carime Reinhart, Angela Homan, and Jessica Ordway. Jennifer McKellar of Xenia Christiam finished 6th at State last year in 5:12, a senior this season, look for her to finish out a spot or two higher. Ashley Shaffer of Parkway is also back after running 5:25 at last year's regional only to slow to 5:40 at state.    After those threee I look to Brittany Winner of Minster and Meinerding of Laramie to contend.
      In the 3200 it is Olding again. She finished second at State last year to Homan in 11:19, but was obviously tired after her winning 1600 effort. McKellar is back here too. With an 11:29 PR, and coming off a solid 18:52 4th place effort at the state meet (to Homan, Reinhart, and Olding), she should have little trouble qualifying out. After Olding and McKellar, it really is wide open. The frosh Meinerding or the junior Shaffer could nab the last two spots.