Cross Country Competition & Freedom Run Preview From the Sept. 19 edition of The Bridgeport News by Jeff Toquinto Editor of The Bridgeport News It's been nearly 10 years since Bridgeport started its cross country program. Although still a relatively young sport, one may find it hard to believe the Indians have yet to have a home cross country meet. All of that will change, however, next Wednesday when the Indians host the first-ever Bridgeport High School Indians Freedom Run at the Bel Meadow Country Club. The meet will start at 5 p.m wit the boys varsity. "I started working on our home meet last season, but plans changed this summer," said coach Julie Hartley, who is in her third year with the program. "We were supposed to have the meet at Bridgeport City Park, but they paved the trails, which is not cool for those that like mud." The problem of where to hold the meet was solved by Cindy Woodward, said Hartley. Hartley said Woodward is the owner of Bel Meadow and offered that course for the meet and for practice purposes. "By having a home meet and getting support from the school and parents, we can strengthen our program," said Hartley. The program should get a future boost by the development of a middle school program. That job was posted recently at Bridgeport Middle and Hartley is hoping it will help increase numbers. "It's difficult to have a large cross country team in Bridgeport with the popularity of band, soccer, football and volleyball," said Hartley. "We are trying to increase numbers by working together with other sport coaches." Next Wednesday's meet will have Grafton, Buckhannon-Upshur, Robert C. Byrd, Liberty, Lincoln and the host school. Hartley said more could join the field. The top 10 individuals in the varsity races will be provided with handcrafted awards. The Indians are hoping to fare better in this meet than in the early meets. On Saturday, the BHS boys came in 15th out of 17 teams competing in the Bearcat Combo held at the Taylor County Fairgrounds. Parkersburg South took the boys crown, while Grafton was second. Williamstown came in third. BHS edged out Philip Barbour and Lincoln. Bridgeport posted a team time of 1 hour, 51 minutes and 42.81 seconds. The average runners' time was 22 minutes and 20.57 seconds. Benjamin Booth was the top BHS runner. He posted a time of 20 minutes and 1.05 seconds to come in 51st out of 116 runners. The Indians' Nick Green finished 70th overall with a time of 20 minutes and 49.65 seconds. Bridgeport's girls team did not participate as a group. Kate Merinar participated on an individual basis and finished 41st out of 87 with a time of 24 minutes and 55.43 seconds. In last week's paper in the story about the Autumn Classic in St. Mary's, Merinar's name was not listed as the top BHS finisher. She came in 41st out of 90 with a time of 25 minutes and 26.08 seconds. Merinar's name was incorrectly listed on the Web site RunWV.com as K. Mermer, which led to the omission. Along with next week's Freedom Run, the Indians will take part Saturday in the Forest Festival Invitational in Elkins.