Freshman Julianne Ott placed 12th overall and top among Baldwin girls at the cross country invitational on Friday. 

Ott has been in cross country since middle school and was happy with her performance.

“I placed well and my time was good too,” Ott said. “It is really intimidating because these girls are a lot older and I have to compete against them.” 

Despite that, Ott pushed through.

“There was a big hill in the back and I was struggling to get up, but I just focused on my breathing and just thought that it was going to be over soon,” she said.

Senior Andrew Barrett was pleasantly surprised at Ott’s finish. 

“She normally isn’t our first runner to finish, but what she placed shows that when she wants something and puts her mind to it, she can do it,” Barrett said.  

Other Baldwin runners also did well.

“A few boys who did well on Friday were senior Philip Pegher, who was one of (Baldwin’s) top two finishers, sophomore Ryan Priano, who was our third, and sophomore Andrew Winschel, who was our fourth-top finisher,” Barrett said. 

Barrett also said Eliza Swanson and Mallory Mezeivtch also ran well for Baldwin.

The team plans on focusing on setting new PR’s at their next invitational on Saturday at IUP.