Salem’s Laura Hovorka (left) and Chaya Murray compete in the Div. III girls race on Saturday at the state cross country meet at Fortress Obetz.

OBETZ — The Salem girls showed you don’t need a No. 1 runner if everyone does their best.

The Quakers’ top five runners ran career bests in leading the team to a surprising sixth-place showing at the Division III state cross country meet Saturday.

“I’m very proud of us,” senior Laura Hovorka said.

“I expected us to do good,” junior Emily Sinsley said.

The Quakers were sixth out of 24 teams with 256 points. The Eastern Buckeye Conference had three of the top nine teams as Salem was joined by Minerva in fourth (192) and Marlington ninth (293).

“The girls did very well,” Salem coach Ted Yuhaniak said. “They outperformed what other people were thinking.”

“Our coach pushed us,” Hovorka said. “He said there is no reason not to do well today. It’s a nice day.”

The Quakers reached state for the fifth year in a row and they showed they belong at Fortress Obetz.

No Quakers finished in the top 60, but they had four of the next 22 runners.

Hovorka was 61st and finished the 3.1-mile course in 19 minutes, 52.69 seconds — the only time a Quaker went under 20 minutes all season.

Freshman Addison Hopple followed in 74th (20:05.44), junior Cassidy Wallace 81st (20:11.94), sophomore Liliana Pimentel Alexander 82nd (20:12.23), junior Emily Sinsley 118th (20:39.42), senior Paige Menough 127th (20:53.89) and freshman Chaya Murray 146th (21:14.59).

“We all ran super good,” Sinsley said. “We knew what was on the table and would do well.”

Only Wallace, Pimentel Alexander and Menough ran at the state meet last year. This was Hovorka’s third state appearance after missing last year because to a sprained ankle.

“Getting healthy, there’s a time to have that happen,” Yuhaniak said.

The Quakers huddled after the race.

“There was whole bunch of crying,” Hovorka said.

Salem had four different No. 1s this season and will be looking for someone to take the lead next year.

“It’s up for grabs,” Hovorka said. “They’re all pretty close and they all have something to prove.”

Yuhaniak said all you have to do is look at Saturday’s results and most of the top teams have an elite runner.

“We know it can be anyone,” he said. “If you’re going to win (a state title), you need someone high on the podium.”

The Quakers will reload for next season.

“They lose two good ones, but they have a good solid pack,” Yuhaniak said. “They’re going to go after year six and move up in the team standings.”

“I expect all of them to do better next year,” Hovorka said. “I expect them to be in the top three.”

Lions roar

After two straight state titles and three in the last four years, the Minerva girls were fourth in the Division III team standings.

The Lions had only two runners on Saturday that ran at the state meet last year and had one of their runners leave the team during the season.

“They just have the program rolling.” Yuhaniak said. “The next runner steps right in.”

Four Minerva runners went under 20 minutes — sophomore Tateum Richard 13th (18:45.62), junior Makenzie Beavers 31st (19:03.94), freshman Charlie Galley 60th (19:52.34) and sophomore Addison Keyser 62nd (19:54.10).

This was the 11th straight state appearance for the Minerva girls and all seven who ran Saturday are underclassmen.

Meet notes

¯ Salem’s seven girls made up a whopping 182 places after the two-mile mark Saturday.

The placed gained by each Quakers includes Hovorka +18, Hopple +35, Wallace +33, Pimentel Alexander +40, Sinsley +60, Menough +60 and Murray +75.

¯ Sinsley was the alternate last year.

“It’s a cool experience,” she said. “You want to be there with them.”

¯ Sinsley wasn’t thinking about next year after Saturday’s race.

“I’m haven’t really yet,” she said. “I’m just appreciating the time I have left with the seniors.”

¯ Junior Irelyn Johnson became the first Marlington girl to win a state cross country title, topping the Division III race in a school-record 18:10.89. She also was the Eastern Buckeye Conference champion.