Course record falls as Tatnall takes top five places

By CHUCK DURANTE • Special to the News Journal

NEWARK -- Tatnall dominated the Division II state meet like no team ever before, romping to its fourth straight title Saturday behind three-time champion Juliet Bottorff, placing all seven of its runners in the top 10.

In her first competitive visit to White Clay Creek State Park, Bottorff broke the course record by 20 seconds, running 18:29. Freshman teammate Haley Pierce also surpassed Anna Brousell's 5-year-old record. Katie Buenaga, too ill to run in practice since Tuesday, finished third.

When Kallie Fehr finished fourth, the Hornets became the first team to send its first four runners across the finish line since Bob King, Calvin Perry, Marvin Hackett and Mel Perry of Howard did so in 1958.

Tatnall's final score became a lowest-possible 15 when head official Tom Fort ruled that the closing sprint of the fifth finisher, St. Andrews' Cindy Caldwell, interfered with Tatnall's Molly Parsons.

A three-coach appeals panel, whose proceedings did not..... READ MORE