From the Oct. 16 Edition of The Bridgeport News
by Jeff Toquinto
Editor of The Bridgeport News

For the second straight year, a Bridgeport freshman
captured the girls Harrison County Cross Country
individual championship.
Jenna Fogg, who was a force at the middle school level
a year ago, continued her strong showing in distance
events by taking the cross country title at the
Veteran’s Park in Clarksburg on Monday. Fogg posted a
time of 24 minutes and 32 seconds to get the win.
Her time was nearly two minutes better than the
runner-up, who finished in 26 minutes and 27 seconds.
Teddi Derrickson came in fourth in the event for BHS.
Derrickson posted a time of 27 minutes and 44 seconds
to help Bridgeport come in second.
The Indians would likely have done better had last
year’s winner, sophomore, Kate Merinar, been able to
compete. Merinar, who has missed several meets this
year, couldn’t compete Monday due to a stress fracture
in her right leg.
Merinar won last year’s event with a time of 22
minutes and 23 seconds. However, it would be unfair to
compare her time with those in this year’s field.
Due to construction near the Veteran’s Administration
Hospital, the course layout had to be changed. The new
course left runners from nearly every team confused.
Across the board on the female side of the event, the
times were well off last year’s pace.
The girls totaled 33 points to finish second. Robert
C. Byrd won the girls side of the event with 24 points
by placing four runners among the top six finishers.
For the boys, no individual times were available. The
team totaled 78 points, which left them in third place
in the three-team event.
On Saturday, the teams battled in the Times
Invitational in Fairmont. Fogg was the top girls
finisher. Her time of 22 minutes and 39.32 seconds was
good for 21st out of 98 runners.
Derrickson was the next highest finisher with a 66th
place spot. Her time of 25 minutes and 37.14 seconds
helped BHS come in 13th out of 15 teams.
For the boys, Brandon Smith's time of 22 minutes and
11.07 seconds was tops for BHS. It was the 104th place
spot out of 126 competitors. BHS finished 17th in the
17-team field.
The teams are expected to be back in action today for
the Big 10 championships. The Big 10 event is held at
the Taylor County Fairgrounds.