Portsmouth Cheetah Running Club has 4 All-Americans at national race

SHELBYVILLE, Indiana — A mid-December snowstorm made for a rugged championship course at the USA Track & Field (USATF) National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Dec. 13, but Portsmouth’s Cheetah Running Club proved they were built for the elements. 

The local youth program capped its season at the national race on Dec. 13 with four top-25 finishes, earning four All-American honors. 

“It was a true cross country race with very challenging conditions in the snow, which totaled about five inches by the end of the day,” Cheetah Running Club head coach Eric Beidleman said. “A race like that is much less about pure speed and more about grit and resilience. Our medalists really acquitted themselves well."

Everett Smith delivered the club’s top result, placing fourth in the boys 9-10 division, covering the 1.86-mile course in 11 minutes, 22.8 seconds. 

Smith was joined in the All-American circle by three teammates in the 7-8 division. Benjamin Drake was 14th in the boys 2K (8:05.5), while Vivienne Siller (14th, 8:43.9) and Zoey George (25th, 8:57.5) both earned All-American honors in the girls 2K. 

“That’s a tough day to race, and they handled it,” Beidleman said. “To have four kids come home with All-American finishes against the best in the country says a lot about the work they put in from August on.” 

Cheetahs win three New England championship titles

Before reaching the national stage, the Cheetahs competed at the New England Championships in Attleboro, Mass., and won team titles in the 8-and-under girls, 9–10 boys, and 13–14 boys divisions. 

The 8-and-under girls swept the top three spots as Siller (8:47.91), Lillian Rizzo (8:52.66) and George (8:55.03) placed first through third, respectively, and teammate Shae Seppa was 10^th (9:50.08).

In the 8-and-under boys, Drake was second (8:14.71), Theodore Donohue was fifth (8:31.17), and Benno Hodges (8:38.05) was eighth. 

In the 9-10 division, Smith captured the New England championship in a time of 11:27.87, while William Anderson (12:16.43) was seventh, and Noah LaFleur (12:35.48) was 10th.

In the 11-12 girls division, Morgan Sanderson was seventh (12:07.67) and Mia Proulx was ninth (12:16.73). 

In the 13–14 boys, Gavin Leader was fifth (14:02.55) and Zachary Lefebvre was seventh (14:07.50), leading the Cheetahs to the New England championship in that group's last year of eligibility.

“That group has been together a long time,” coach Sam Leader said. “To end it with a New England team title is a great finish for them, and something those kids will remember.”

A look at who’s on the team 

Members of the running club this season included Portsmouth’s Everett Smith, Vivienne Siller, Zoey George, Shae Seppa, William Anderson, Noah LaFleur, Gavin Leader, Hayden George, Mia Proulx and Benno Hodge; Dover’s Zachary Lefebvre: and Barrington’s Benjamin Drake. 

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth Cheetah Running Club has 4 All-Americans at national race