CEDARVILLE, Ohio — The Indian Lake cross country program turned in a strong performance at the OHSAA Division III Southwest District Championships on Saturday at Cedarville University, sending seven high school runners to the regional meet with an opportunity to extend their seasons and compete for a spot at the state championships.

The Lakers showcased their depth on the girls side, with five runners qualifying for regionals, while two boys advanced as individual qualifiers.

Leading the Indian Lake girls was Laura Metzger, who finished 29th overall with a time of 21:47. Kayleigh Taylor followed in 84th place in 24:27, while Haley Metzger crossed the finish line in 89th with a time of 24:49.

Caroline Jones placed 95th in 25:28, and Abby Arnett rounded out the Lakers' girls contingent with a 99th-place finish in 25:40.

On the boys side, Nathan White led the Indian Lake qualifiers with a 46th-place finish, completing the race in 18:16. Hayden Kuhlke also secured a regional berth, finishing 53rd overall with a time of 18:41.

With seven runners advancing, Indian Lake will now turn its attention to the next stage of the postseason as the Lakers prepare to compete against some of the top Division III runners in southwest Ohio.

The OHSAA Division III Southwest Regional Championships will take place Saturday, Oct. 31, in Troy. The girls race is scheduled for 1:40 p.m., followed by the boys race at 2:20 p.m.

Both groups will look to deliver another strong performance as they pursue a coveted spot at the OHSAA State Cross Country Championships.

For the seven Indian Lake qualifiers, the regional meet represents another opportunity to build on their district performances, compete against the area's best runners and keep their postseason runs alive.