Wednesday marked the official start of the 2025 high school cross country season.

At Buckeye Local, the Ohio Valley Cross Country League hosted its annual OVCCL Kick Off Meet, with 16 schools from across the Ohio Valley competing in the season’s first race.

The day began with the junior high 2-mile run.

Then it was time for the high schoolers to take the course; A 5K route that winds through the woods and features the infamous steep hill at its center, often called "the great equalizer."

In the boys’ race, it was a three-way battle for first, but Maddox Roach from East Liverpool pulled away late, finishing strong with a time of 16:14.

On the girls’ side, the field stayed tight until the midway incline, where Alanna Williams of Martins Ferry broke away and claimed the top spot with a t

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