Bishop Brossart freshman Henry Kramer said Saturday at the Kentucky Horse Park “the best experience of my life.”
Mustangs coach Chris Davis was so happy, he all but leaped into Brossart principal Chris Holtz’s arms.
Indeed, there should be cause for celebration at 4 Grove Street in Alexandria. The Mustangs won their first state Class A boys cross country team title since 2023 over Highlands Latin, 85-126.
Kramer finished third, covering the 3.1-mile course in 16 minutes, 3.1 seconds, a little more than four seconds ahead of Brossart senior Adam Tarvin’s 16:07.6.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better season,” Tarvin said.
It was an exponentially season for all the Mustangs, who finished 10th last year and had just one runner, Griffin Hill, who finished 16th in 2024.
“We were kind of lamenting that we thought we were a year away, and unfortunately Adam was gonna graduate before we could pair him up with some of these kids,” Davis said. “But they had different plans.”
Not only did Brossart’s boys win the state title, the Mustangs led what could be a youth movement in Northern Kentucky running.
The goal of every cross country team is to get their top five runners to the finish line as a pack. Saturday was a strong statement, at least for Brossart because it only took 1:25 for Kramer, Tarvin, sophomore Parker Litmer (30th place, 17:22.5), sophomore Evan Labeau (32nd, 17:27.7) and freshman Henry Rawe (33rd, 17:28.1) to finish.
Tarvin beat his personal best by about 40 seconds – pretty good for someone who strained a hip adductor muscle playing soccer.
“I would have been ecstatic to take a 16:20 or something like that,” Tarvin said. “I’m really happy that all the training that I’ve done in the years past into this season as well still is able to pay off in that way.”
Kramer and Tarvin were in the lead pack the whole race.
“I think we were both in front together at one point, and it was just so nice to be on that,” Kramer said.
PHOTOS: Slideshow provided by Charles Bolton
A different position
Tarvin thought he would have to come from behind instead of hold onto the lead.
“And then I thought to myself, ‘if I’m in this position, I have to capitalize on it’,” Tarvin said. “And I was just trying to stay as close to the front of the pack and as close to Henry as possible because I figured he was probably going to have a faster time than me, and I just wanted to be there and post the best time possible.”
Three more local runners finished in the top 15: Beechwood junior Charlie Skeen (eighth place, 16:25.5), Beechwood junior Gannon Parke (11th, 16:34.0) and Holy Cross sophomore Miles Feldman (13th, 16:37.9).
Beechwood was third with 110 points, and Holy Cross was seventh with 279.
Dawson Springs senior Easton Bourland won the race in 15:40.7, and Bethlehem senior Grant Greenwell was second in 15:57.1.
With Ryle’s girls finishing second in Class 3A, Beechwood’s girls finishing second in Class A, and Highlands’ girls and boys finishing second and third, respectively, in 2A, Davis likes what he sees in Northern Kentucky.
“Oh yeah,” Davis said. “I’m really excited in that.”
For complete boys results, visit khsaa.org (bit.ly/3WZukkn)
Girls: Youthful Beechwood takes second
The Tigers finished second to Owensboro Catholic, 53-134, but first-year coach Ian Johnstone’s joy was not the least bit dampened.
“All these girls stepping up from middle school and just representing today was great,” Johnstone said. “A lot of them ran PRs (personal records) and just showed up and did what they needed to do.”
Eighth-grader Audra Pohlgeers was Beechwood’s first finisher, placing 19th in 20:25.3. The next four Tigers were: freshman Ellie Groene (21st, 20:37.6), freshman Alyssa Lawrence (31st, 21:07.5), freshman Madison Moore (38th, 21:23.4) and freshman Alyse Mains (40th, 21:24.1).
Ochsner, Cozmanciuc continue duel
Brossart freshman Callie Ochsner was Northern Kentucky’s highest finisher, taking fifth place in 18:52.6. Region 4 champion Jasmine Cozmanciuc of Villa Madonna was seventh in 19:14.7.
Ochsner and Cozmanciuk have dueled the last couple weeks. Ochsner said Saturday’s time made up for her 20:19.26 at last week’s race.
“Last week I didn’t have the best race, and (Cozmanciuk) was right with me the whole time,” Ochsner said.
Ochsner called the Horse Park layout “a good course.”
“I tried to push myself as much as I could on the hills,” she said. “And the last mile being pretty much downhill was definitely a good advantage for most people.”
Cozmanciuc was happy with seventh place.
“I knew I would medal,” she said. “… I was just curious to see where I could place.”
Cozmanciuk thought she was running at a 5:40 pace through the first mile, and by the mostly hilly second mile she decided “there’s no going back” the rest of the race.
“I was just gonna, honestly, just kick it out hard and see what happened,” she said.
Villa Madonna senior Norie Barker also made the top 15 podium, finishing 11th in 19:47.5. The Vikings were fifth in the team standings, Brossart was sixth, and Holy Cross was ninth.
Fort Campbell’s Linden Pickler won the race by 16 seconds over Sayre’s Molly Chambers.
For complete girls results, visit khsaa.org (bit.ly/4sCDr6y).
