“She was that close?” Nichols asked moments after the race. “I saw the ribbons (lining the course to guide runners) and for some reason I thought that was the finish. I was like, ‘Oh no. I still have another 100 meters to go.’ That kind of messed with my head.”
Nichols won the 3.1-mile (5,000 meter) race in 18:05.4. After Vaughn’s dramatic dive, the next runner didn’t cross the line until 14 seconds later.
“In your head you have so much hope,” Nichols said of coming in as a state title contender. “I kept thinking (during the race) I can do this. I might do this. I did it.”
Nichols didn’t take up cross-country until last season when her track coaches convinced her. She got to know Vaughn, a state champion in 2012 and runner-up in 2013. Vaughn was injured for last year’s state meet.
“No matter what place I got I was giving it my all at the end because it’s been such a journey,” Vaughn said of battling injuries as much as competition. “The last four years have been so emotional.”
Nichols said she was right behind Vaughn most of the race, then overtook her the last 800 meters.
“Abby has the best kick I have ever seen. She has so much speed,” Vaughn said. “I was like, ‘She’s got me.’ Then I saw her slow up and I thought this could be my last race. … Somehow instincts kick in and adrenaline kicks in and you go for it.”
In the D-I race Troy sophomore Morgan Gigandet sprinted to an early lead, which has been her trademark. Centerville senior Lainey Studebaker, who finished second to Gigandet at last week’s regional meet, kept Gigandet within striking distance.
Studebaker made her move with about a mile left and never looked back. She won in 17:39 for a four-second victory. Gigandet finished fourth.
“I’m kind of in disbelief,” Studebaker said. “I knew I was going to have to be patient because she goes out really hard. I made sure I ran my own race and stayed back in the beginning.”
Her victory helped the Elks beat runner-up Olentangy Liberty 71 to 124.
“Our team is all about each other. It’s really awesome to come in and repeat,” Studebaker said. “It’s just the same amazing feeling. I’m so blessed I get to feel it twice.”
Centerville received a pack of points from sophomore Kelli Walsh (23rd), senior Taylor Malchow (26th), freshman Savannah Lowe (29th) and freshman Rachel Whitehead (31st).
“Last year we didn’t have a target on our back,” Centerville coach Dave Dobson said. “This year we had that target and there’s a little bit of relief to feel like we did what was expected of us.”
Tippecanoe nearly pulled off a sweep of its own in Division II. The Red Devils finished runner-up for both the boys and girls team titles. Lexington edged out Tipp both times.
“We didn’t run poorly, they’re just really good,” Tipp coach Byron Kimmel said.
Tipp senior Mitchell Poynter also finished second in the boys race.
“He’s meant a lot to our program,” Kimmel said. “He’s well liked in the community and his impact on our program is going to be felt for years to come.”
Troy senior Stephen Jones had the area’s highest finish in the D-I boys meet with ninth place, earning All-Ohio honors (top 16 finishers).
Oakwood junior Elizabeth Ordeman (8th) and Alter sophomore Perri Bockrath (14th) joined their teammates on the podium.
Newton senior Brady McBride topped area runners in the D-III meet coming in eighth.
Minster’s girls finished in second to St. Thomas Aquinas for the D-III title. Botkins senior Chloe Flora (4th) and Minster junior Morgan Pohl (123) led area runners.
About the Author