Steps before crossing the finish line, the smile started to spread across Lebanon senior Jacquelyn Crow’s face as she crossed into Warrior history.

Crow out-dueled and out-gutted Sylvania Northview’s Janelle Noe to claim the Division I state cross country championship Saturday at National Trail Raceway in 17:39.31. Noe finished in 17:40.88.

“I am so happy right now,” Crow said as her smile continued to grow. “I just wanted to go out and run the best race I could and either way it would be fine as long as I did my best.”

Crow finished eighth as a junior.

“It turned out great,” she said. “I just feel so blessed.”

Crow was seventh after a mile and sat six seconds back from the leader, but moved up to fourth as the group entered the final mile.

“I just wanted to keep the lead girls in front of me and see how it went,” Crow said.

By the time the group entered the final 300 yards, Crow had a slight edge on Noe with Annie Heffernan of Cincinnati St. Ursula and Mason’s Lauren Wood within steps of the lead.

“The last stretch, I couldn’t feel my legs,” Crow said. “But I got so much energy from all the people in the stands to be able to do it even though my legs were killing me … but this is a great feeling.”

The title came in Thomas Hoeffel’s final meet as the Lebanon coach.

“This is a great day for Lebanon cross country,” Hoeffel said. “It is our first champ and my last time out. Even in the middle of the race, I knew she could do it.”

While the legs were beginning to feel better, Crow was starting to ache elsewhere.

“She said her cheeks hurt,” Hoeffel said with a smile.

Springboro finished seventh in the team race with 203 points with Lycia Hollon leading the way with a 22nd-place finish in 18:39. Rachel Mahle was second runner for the Panthers, finishing 30th in 18:47. The Panthers were sixth after the mile split, but moved up to fourth heading into the final mile before finishing seventh. Mason claimed the state title with 42 points.

Middletown Christian’s Becca Wheeler finished 57th in the Division III race in 19:53. Franklin’s Jeremy Ruppert finished 80th in the boys Division I race 16:26.