TROY — The Troy High School girls cross country team and Troy Christian sophomore Elisabeth Waltz are the unofficial 3K state champions (most high school cross country races are 5K) after the annual opening race at Lost Creek in the Miami County Park District.

“We jokingly call it that,” Troy girls cross country coach Kevin Alexander said after his team dominated the competition Monday night. “Because, it is the only race of that distance. It is good way to get started. The Miami County Park District does a great job and it is a really nice course.”

The Trojans put four runners in the top eight.

“That was big for us,” Alexander said. “That was a breakout race for Avyn (Spagnola) and McKenna (Lynch) and Kennedy (Harlamert) both ran really well for us.”

The Trojans top seven included Lily Zimmerman, 3, 12:26.6; Isabel Westerheide, 6, 12:59.6; Avyn Spagnola, 7, 13:05.3; Kaylee Strayer, 8, 13:17.8; McKenna Lynch, 13, 13:42.0; Kennedy Harlamert, 15, 13:49.5 and Olivia Garrett, 17, 13:54.1.

Troy will be running at the Bob Schul Invitational Saturday.

“That will be an eye opener,” Alexander said. “There will be huge number of girls in that race.”

Waltz led Troy Christian, moving up one spot from a year ago to win the race in 12:02.6, nearly 15 seconds in front of Tecumseh’s Sara Kottmyer

“I have finished second the last three years (including junior high),” Waltz said. “So, I was hoping I could win this year. It is good to start the season with a short race.”

Waltz is a returning state qualifier and looks forward to the Bob Schul race Saturday.

“I am hoping to continue where I left off last season,” she said. “Obviously, I won’t run a PR or anything, but it will be a good race to see where I am at.”

Milton-Union finished fourth Monday.

Aubrey Bates led the Bulldogs with a fourth-place finish in 12:35.2.

The rest of the top seven were Sydnie Bartlett, 19, 14:00.7; Madelyn Korte, 27, 14:23.6; Jessica Lightner, 35, 14:53.2; Amelia Iddings, 44, 15:16.6; Alaina Manning, 47, 15:25.4 and Lola Taylor, 76, 17:27.6.

Piqua finished fifth.

The Indians top seven included Lucy Weiss, 14, 13:48.6; Ashlyn Gearhardt, 16, 13:55.4; Alyssa York, 30, 14:47.5; Addyson Ford, 40, 15:04.6; Libby Jane Gearhardt, 49, 15:32.0; Bailey Quinter, 62, 16:20.1 and Kendall Soto 70, 16:47.2.

Troy Christian finished eighth.

The rest of the Eagles runners included Joy Myers, 34, 14:52.8; Annaliese Erdahl, 66, 16:24.1; Maddy Shope, 71, 16:55.4; Anna Lee, 78, 17:45.8 and Norah Rocke, 80, 18:25.1.

Sports Editor Rob Kiser can be reached at [email protected]