BOARDMAN - Forgive Michael Richards and the McDonald girls cross country team if they are a bit exuberant about finishing fourth during Saturday's Division III girls regional race at Boardman High School.

Richards, who was an accomplished runner, was slowed by a condition called Syringomyelia. He was limited in his daily activities and running distance races, like marathons, became a distant memory.

His distance running would be done through his eyes - watching McDonald compete this season.

He was diagnosed prior to the 2008 season, where the Blue Devils fell points short of qualifying for the state meet in Columbus.

This season, McDonald amassed 129 points. Surprisingly enough, Gilmour Academy was this year's team who fell short with 138 points.

The top four in each race and top 16 runners advance to Scioto Downs.

However, Lancers senior Rebekka Simko finished first in a time of 20 minutes, 21.83 seconds. Berkshire's Alex Bowers was second (20:50.18) to pace the Badgers to a second-place finish (72 points). St. Thomas Aquinas' Julia Pusateri was third (20:55.41) to lift the Knights to a third-place finish with 110 points.

"This girls team is amazing," Richards said. "I hardly have words to say this year. After everything that happened last year and with my health issues, the girls put it all out there, not only for themselves, but for other people."

These girls have put their faith in a higher power.

"I give God a lot of glory," Richards said. "I know that's a taboo thing to say in a public school, but our girls team is big time in faith and trust God will help them in a lot of things too. That's what I think. Just to my wife (Carrie), coach (Chris) Rupe and coach (Lou) Domitrovich and other coaches ... it just means a lot. It means more than the other ones (state meets) we've gone."

As for McDonald's boys team, they took second behind Independence in the Division III boys race, 60-82. Maplewood took third (101) and St. Thomas Aquinas was fourth (119). McDonald has qualified for state every year since 1999.

Ryan and Kyle Polman of Independence took the top two spots, respectively. Ryan ran 17:17.48, while Kyle finished in 17:26.40. McDonald's Patrick Kunkel was third (17:37.15).

After the deluge of rain the area has received the past couple of days and weeks, the Boardman course had its share of slippery mud.

Kunkel, who won last week's Division III district title at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds in a mudfest, said he blocked out the slick conditions.

"You have to keep your mind straight on what you've got to do and keep your head up," he said.

Teammate Jerry Dugan, who was eighth, said he's had better races. Dugan was out of last week's district because of the flu.

"I did horrible this race. That mud killed me," Dugan said. "Patrick ran a phenomenal race. He did great. I wanted to stick with him so bad. I was trying.

"All that matters is we qualified, going to state and I'll be feeling better next week."

As for Richards, he's still reveling in the moment.

"I feel about 15 feet tall today," he said.

jvargo@tribtoday.com