On Saturday morning, the Fairbanks Panthers will be represented by three athletes at the Ohio Division 3 Region 11 Championships at Pickerington North High School, and head coach Mike Van Winkle thinks all three runners have a chance at punching their ticket to the state meet. “It’s the witching hour. Halloween is almost here, and we’ve definitely got the spirits on our side,” said Van Winkle, as he strangely fondled a gem-encrusted amulet in his hands. “I got the black candles out a couple weeks ago, and tonight, in the sanctity of my manure barn, I plan to hold a ritual for good luck.” Aside from his fascination with the occult, Van Winkle thinks his runners will be fast. “They’ve been putting down some good times in practice this week, and they all seem to run well in cooler weather, so we’ll see what happens when the gun goes POW!”
Rachael Hoover isn’t taking any chances. “I’ve held off on eating Halloween candy for three weeks for this, so there’s no way that I’m not prepared. It’s been nothing but proteins and healthy carbs and lots of water and running for me, lately. Oh yeah, and I’ve also spent a few late nights with my Ouija board to try and get the scoop on my opponents, because after all, like Coach Van Winkle says, ‘You can never be too sure.’” Freshman Mara Vacari is excited for her Regional debut. “It’s a lot of pressure, but it’s awesome having a veteran like Rachael to take me through the ropes. She makes sure that I get properly warmed up and she even utters demonic incantations that she swears will make me run faster. Last week she mixed for me a pre-race potion. It tasted awful, and I’m not sure exactly what was in it, but I ran a great time and here I am, ready to race again.”
Sophomore Zeke Gingerich doesn’t believe in the dark arts and has instead just focused on what he does best: speaking in brief, third-person voice about his training methods and the upcoming race. “Zeke ready. Zeke train hard. No one stop Zeke! Zeke start fast; Zeke finish faster. Zeke going to state this year.”
The course should be a familiar one for the Panther runners as they competed at Pickerington North earlier this year. According to Coach Van Winkle, “Our kids are going to be on fresh legs, it’s cool and nearly November, and the course works out to our advantage. I really expect some great things tomorrow morning, and my black magic almanac has made predictions that I’m not at liberty to discuss, but suffice it to say that it’s going to be a spectacle.” The bus departs Fairbanks at 8:30 so come out and support your Panthers!!!
Info:
Bus Time: 8:30am bus departure from FHS Lobby.
Admission: $8.00 for student admission and $10.00 adult admission, please inform your parents and fans. All tickets sales are online and limited to just parents and immediate family members. Tickets can be purchased at https://ohsaa.org/tickets.
Recreational Equipment, Pets and Site Regulations: Recreational equipment such as Frisbees, footballs, etc. will not be permitted at the meet site. No smoking is permitted on school property. PETS ARE NOT PERMITTED AT REGIONAL SITES!
Awards: Awards will be presented in the stadium 30 minutes after the conclusion of each race.
Team & Individual
D3 Boys 5 Teams + Top 20 Individuals
D3 Girls 6 Teams + Top 24 Individuals
Parking: All participants and spectators should enter Pickerington North High School facilities from Refugee Road at the traffic light across from Kroger. Parking is available in the Pickerington North High School and Lakeview Junior High parking lots. School buses will be directed to park in designated areas on the west side of the high school adjacent to the competitor check in area.
Parking at Pickington North
High School 5k Course Map
