By Cort Reynolds

OTTAWA - Ada sophomore Abbie James finished a team-best 26th in the Div. III district cross country meet at Ottawa Park Saturday.

James covered the 3.1-mile course in 22:06.2 to post the top Ada girls finish amid the 73-runner field.

The Lady Bulldog squad finished ninth at the district meet. Minster easily out-distanced the field with 19 points to win the district crown, while Coldwater was a distant second with 80. Ada totaled 226 points.

Sophomore Emma Watcke of Minster won the girls individual race in 18:55.9. Four of the top five female finishers came from Minster.

Sophomore Michael Crouse posted the best Bulldog boys finish, coming in 39th out of 76 runners in a time of 19:39.4. Classmate Reece Evans came in 42nd, 16 seconds behind Crouse. Ada freshman Ian Dellifield finished 71st.

Ada only had three boys race, two less than the requisite five to field a team score.

Senior Brendon Siefker of Ottoville won the boys race in 15:50.9. Lincolnview captured the boys team title with 56 points to nose out St. Henry (61).

Only the top three teams and top three individuals from non-qualifying teams qualified to Tiffin for the Div. III regional next Saturday.

Ada boys district places, times:

39th Michael Crouse, 19:39.4

42nd Reece Evans 19:55.4

71st Ian Dellifield 26:20.8

Ada girls NWC places, times:

26th Abbie James 22:06.2

45th Courtney "Coco" McLaughlin 24:44.6

58th Alexis Ennis 26:47.4

69th Paige Cole 29:22

70th Danielle Waugh 30:40.1

71st Nora Dellifield 32:10.8