Chillicothe Boys XC wins ZT Invitational

CHILLICOTHE, OH — The Chillicothe High School boys cross country team claimed victory at the Zane Trace Invitational on Saturday, securing a dominant first-place finish with a total score of 21 points. The team showcased exceptional depth, with five runners finishing in the top 12, and finished well ahead of second-place Marion Harding (102 points).

Leading the way for the Cavaliers was senior Jayden Beverly, who crossed the finish line first with a time of 16:34.96. Beverly’s performance earned him the individual championship, as he outran Portsmouth’s J.J. Percell, who took second place at 16:44.71.

Chillicothe’s strong team performance was bolstered by Levi Wood (17:32.03) in fourth, Tim Kessler (17:44.86) in sixth, and Noah Flores (17:59.08) in eighth. The Cavaliers’ top five were rounded out by Sam Hurff, who finished in ninth place with a time of 18:03.02.

In addition to Beverly’s victory, the Cavaliers demonstrated their depth with strong performances from other runners, including Payne Huggins (18:29.96) and Sutton Behmer (18:51.31), who finished 10th and 12th, respectively.

Marion Harding, led by Andrew Tackett’s fifth-place finish (17:54.21), finished second in the team standings, while Zane Trace rounded out the top three with a total score of 121 points. Washington finished fourth with 126 points.

Final Team Scores

1. Chillicothe - 21 points

2. Marion Harding - 102 points

3. Zane Trace - 121 points

4. Washington - 126 points

5. Westfall - 131 points