NEW HAVEN — Posting wins on their home course nine days ago, Dutchgirl harriers Ilene Limberg and Mekayla Gibson looked to add a Four Rivers Conference (FRC) individual title to their respective list of individual accomplishments in 2020.

Postponed to Thursday from last Tuesday due to inclement weather, the annual Four Rivers Conference (FRC) Cross Country meet was hosted by New Haven High School at New Haven City Park.

First up Thursday were the varsity girls.

Gibson sprinted out to the early lead and never relinquished it on her way to a FRC championship winning time of 20:53.50 in unseasonably warm weather that saw temperatures reach 86 degrees.

“Mekayla came out and ran a gutsy race,” OHS head cross country coach Matt Candrl said. “She trusted her training and knew what she had to do to be successful.”

In a new twist this year, All-FRC recognition was changed from the top 10 to the top 15 with places one through five earning first-team honors along with places six through 10 earning second-team honors. Places 11 through 15 earn All-FRC honorable mention status.

In spite of missing the medals, Dutchgirl seniors Katie Candrl (11th, 23:56.13) and Kate Angell (15th, 24:08.86) finished high enough to earn All-FRC Honorable Mention.

“I’m proud of Katie and Kate for battling the heat and the course to earn honorable mention All-FRC honors,” coach Candrl said.

Just missing All-FRC honors was Dutchgirl junior Kyah Weirich with a 16th-place time of 24:09.69.

“Kyah ran a solid race today,” coach Candrl said.

Finishing second behind Hermann (48) as a team with 72 points, other varsity Dutchgirl finishers also included Isabelle Bruckerhoff (34th), Kiera Finn (37th), and Julianna Watkins (40th).

Next up on the course was the varsity Dutchmen.

Exercising some strategy in the early part of the race, senior Cameron O’Neal executed his game plan to the tune of a sixth-place time of 19:08.77 good enough for All-FRC second team recognition.

“Cameron ran a great race today,” coach Candrl said. “He came out starting not too fast as part of his race strategy and it paid off.”

Other Dutchmen All-FRC honorable mention status were the junior duo of Jacob Breedlove (14th, 20:06.52) and Freddy Zheng (15th, 20:09.69).

“Jacob and Freddy both ran solid races to get into the top 15 and help us finish third as a team,” coach Candrl said.

Placing third behind Union (56) and Hermann (58), Owensville finished with 75 points behind additional finishes from Harm Rademacher (21st) and Trevor Shockley (24th).

Results from the junior varsity and middle school races will be in next week’s Republican as their seasons came to an end at the FRC meet.