COLUMBUS – To make the D-III State Finals as a freshman is quite an accomplishment, and a potentially overwhelming one at that for someone in their first year of Varsity competition.
If there was any overwhelming done on November 2 though, Alexa Leppelmeier of Pettisville was the one doing it.
Leppelmeier finished 36th overall at the D-III competition with a time of 19:58.09. She was the sixth freshman to cross the finish line, but the story goes well beyond the number. Of the five frosh finishing ahead of her, four of them did not take the course alone…they were running with their teams. The only freshmen competing as individuals to finish in the top 40 in Columbus were Leppelmeier, and Ashleigh Rowley of B.C. Western, who was slightly over five seconds faster than the pride of Pettisville.
The anchor of the BBC Champion Ladybirds has three more years in which to sharpen her skills, and Columbus will be calling for each of those three years.