The Bel Air Cross Country team ran all the way to the State Championship in Hereford this year by performing well in both the UCBAC and the regional tournaments. In these races, Bel Air managed to run by rivals such as Patterson Mill and Fallston.

 Senior captains ran their last high school race at the State Championship; graduating senior captains for the boys’ team include Roberto Ascenzi, Chester Wrobel, Bill McLewely, and Pat Voelker. Graduating senior runners for the girls’ include Grayson Slencak, Devon Townend, Megan Caudill, Sara Sage, and Miranda Bushman.

 Jordan Mensh and Kelsea Hilditch led the Bobcats in races, typically placing first for Bel Air in their respective divisions. Jordan Mensh’s fastest time in a race was 17 minutes and 3 seconds at the UCBAC regional championships. Grayson Slencak’s also ran her fastest time at the UCBAC championship, finishing the race in 20 minutes and 33 seconds.

 Senior Captain Sara Sage was very pleased with the cross country season this year and liked the way that they overcame controversy, “I think the team did very well despite the challenges of being in a new division. Kelsea Hilditch, our number 1, was sick for a month and came back for regionals and did awesome. A lot of alumni thought we wouldn’t make it to states because a lot of our best runners graduated, but we overcame that and made it anyway! I’d have to say one of our very best races was UCBACs, for the girls at least. The past four years have given me a family and unforgettable experiences. I’d like to come back next year when I come to visit and see our newer runners truly nurturing their potential. Anna Puntanen, Austin Weiss, Kenny Connelly, Trent Tolley are just a few with great potential. I’d love to see how better Casey Sims and Jordan Mensh will be.”