South West Ohio Track Cross Country Coaches Association

Mike Dyer mdyer@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
November 14, 2011 ET

Whether it was the multiple announcements, the celebration during first bell or the cupcakes in math class, Princeton senior Claudia Saunders thoroughly

enjoyed her first day back in school on Nov. 7 - just two days after winning the Division I state girls' cross country title.

"It's been great," Saunders said. "It's been a ton of recognition; the first day back was a little crazy. ...

People seemed excited."

Saunders won the state title in 18:04.50 - a personal best for the 17-year-old. Her previous personal best was 18:12.4, when she finished seventh as a junior at state.

Although Saunders is still considering what she might run in college, she was happy knowing she did her best to finish high school cross country season in Ohio.

"It's still sinking in," Saunders said last week of winning the state title.

Saunders said she plans to visit Arizona State this weekend and is considering schools that include Harvard, Stanford, Columbia and Oregon. She also competes during track season.

Saunders said she would like to major in business and Spanish in college and work for a company that does business internationally. She has traveled to Europe a few times and has been to Canada.

The Nov. 5 state meet at National Trail Raceway in Hebron was a fitting completion to her high school cross country season. Saunders was sixth as a sophomore and was ill during her freshman season.

Saunders was healthy this past summer for a full training schedule after she said she overcame a series of injuries during her high school career. Saunders dealt with shin splints, hip issues and a stress fracture in the past.

This season was the first time she was able to run

every meet without being sick or injured and the solid base of training paid dividends. "That made a huge difference," she said.

Saunders is the first Princeton cross country runner to win the individual state title - male or female, according to the Princeton athletic department. "It's pretty special," Princeton coach Bob Fritz said.

Notes

The Southwest Ohio High School Senior All-Star soccer games will be held this week at Princeton. The boys' game is 7 p.m. today, while the girls' game is 7 p.m. Wednesday. Admission is $5.

Moeller senior pitcher/outfielder Nick Edwards committed to play baseball at Ashland University Nov. 10, according to Moeller coach Tim Held. Edwards is the sixth Moeller player in the 2012 class to make a college commitment, according to Held.

Hamilton junior offensive tackle Ben Flick has been offered by Buffalo, according to the Hamilton football program. It is the first offer for Flick, who is 6 feet 5 and 275 pounds.

Former Moeller athletic director Dick Beerman said a second printing of "We are the 'Big Moe'" is available. The 350-page book is a year-by-year and sport-by-sport history of the school's significant athletic history through its first 50 years.

Beerman, who is the school's archivist, said the first printing sold 250 copies in less than three months. The book is available during normal school hours in the Moeller Spirit Shop in the lobby of the school. Orders can be placed by calling 791-1680 ext 1105 or wearethebigmoe.com. The cost of each book is $39.95. All profits realized through the sale of this book will be directed toward tuition assistance, Beerman said.