NEW PARIS – The Tri-Village Boys won the 2026 Cross Country league title at the WOAC Cross Country Championship held at National Trail on Saturday, October 17th.
The Patriots finished in first place with 69 points to win their first league championship in 19 years. Zac Graham coach for the 2026 team was also the coach in 2007 as well.
Graham would be name the WOAC 2026 Cross Country Coach of the Year.
For coach Graham it was a season long goal that saw his team put in a lot of hard work since early summer.
The top two Tri-Village runners were twin brothers, junior Carter Trantham in 3rd place in a time of 17:08 and Coleman Trantham in 6th place with a time of 17:25.6. Sophomore Owen Ridout was 13th, senior Carsen Dyson 18th and freshman Caison Stewart 38th.
“It’s been a long time coming and very exciting for these boys who have been locked in all season, and they were rewarded for those efforts,” Graham stated.
Newton finished runner-up with 84 points, Dixie was 3rd with 96, Ansonia was 4th with 99 and Preble Shawnee 5th with 107.
The top 10 finishers in the WOAC earn 1st team all-conference with the winner of the race being named runner of the year. Ansonia senior Bennett Lehman the defending state champion won the race for 3rd straight year winning 3.1-mile race with a time of 15:40.8 and was named the Runner of the Year.
Top 10 Boys Runners
Bennett Lehman, Ansonia, 15:40.8
Hunter Todd, Twin Valley South, 16:59.8
Carter Trantham, Tri-Village, 17:08.0
Evan Shields, Preble Shawnee, 17:10.3
Leland Neumaier, Arcanum, 17:17.7
Coleman Trantham, Tri-Village, 17:25.6
Charlie Stull, Franklin Monroe, 17:26.5
James McNew, Dixie, 17:36.3
Evan Jackle, Dixie, 17:36.9
Wyatt Unrast, Ansonia, 17:48.5.
