If the OHSAA Early Season Invitational is any indicator of the upcoming XC season, it will be an exciting one. The meet featured some of the States leading individual returners and teams making strong early season statements for their expectations in November on the same course.
In the first race of the day, the Section A Girls, St. Ursula Academy’s defending State champion, Sr. Annie Heffernan, dominated in leading her team. She won by 43.06 seconds in running 17:59.53. The course record of 17:39.31, set in 2012 by Lebanon’s Jacquelyn Crow, may be in danger come November as Heffernan got out fast at the start and led the entire race.
The Mason girl’s won the team race with 88 points. The girl’s made a strong early season statement that they intend to defend their State Team title, running 7, 12, 21, 22 and 26th led by Jr. Maegan Murphy (7th,19:05.36). The # 2 girls was So. Ellie Brush (19:06.58). The #3 girls was Jr. Lea Ford (20:14.05). The #4 girl was So. Ailee Henderson (20:19.99). The #5 girl was the sole Sr., Delaney McDowell (20:38.98).
The Section B Boy’s race was the most exciting of the day as St. Ignatius Jr. Luke Wagner edged out Mason Sr. Nick Grismer by .01 seconds. Wagner ran a 15:47.18 and Grismer 15:47.19.
St. Ignatius won a close boy’s D1 section with a score of 64. Mason was 2nd with 71 and Hilliard Davidson 3rd with 86. All three teams are strong and ranked in the top 10 Pre-Season Top Teams By Individual Times. The Ignatius boys ran 1, 10, 11, 20, and 22nd. Their #6 runner was 23rd and #7 was 30th. Jr. Luke Wagner was the sole Ignatius boy under 16:00. The other four scorers were only 12.41 seconds apart: Jr. Tom Sullivan (10th, 16:34.68), So. Mike Trentel (11th, 16:36.18), Jr. Jim Rogers (20th, 16:56.01) and So. C.J. Ambosio (22nd, 16:57.09).
The Mason boys were almost equally impressive running 2, 13, 15, 16, and 25th. If Davidson’s number 4 and 5 runners improve, Davidson will be as strong as predicted. Their first three runners were 3rd, 5th and 6th.
Jr. Domi Clairmonte of Lexington ran away with the Section E Girl’s race, running an 18:32.17. She finished 1:06.75 ahead of So. Anna Brandt of Rocky River (19:38.92).
Akron SVSM proved why they are the favorite to defend their State title and poised to win an unprecedented 6th consecutive State D2 team title. They dominated in the team scoring winning with 65 points. The SVSM girls ran 3, 12, 13, 15, 22, 24 and 32nd led by Jr. Rachel Iacofano (19:41.07). So. Mia Brady (12th, 20:15.83) was their #2 runner and three Sr’s. completed their scorers: Cynthia Haas (13th, 20:29.44), Shea O’Brien (15th, 20:43.54) and Grace Davis (22nd, 20:55.62).
The Section F Boys race was won by SVSM Sr. Joe Rossetti. Rosetti ran 16:32.29 in holding off So. Noah Chaplek of Louisville (16:36.04). Louisville Jr. Ben Tornow was 3rd in 16:42.35.
Louisville, with Chaplek and Tornow leading the way, won the Team title. They ran 2, 3, 11, 19 and 32nd. Following Tornow were two sophomores Zach Frisenko (11th, 17:08.40) and Nick Chaplik (19th, 17:19.11). Another junior, Jacob Milburn was the #5 runner (17:41.62).
Bethany Koons of Tuslow (19:59.12) won the Section G Girls race crossing the line 31. 78 seconds ahead of the 2nd place runner Sr. Allyson Malone of Alexander (20:30.90).
South Range placed two girls in the top ten in Section G Girls winning the team title with a 67. Jr. Mollie Pierson was 4th in 20:46.51 and So. Xen Mali was 5th in 20:49.20. Just missing the top ten was their #3 runner Jr. Madelyn Kimple who placed 11th in 21:33.88. The #4 and 5 runners were Jr. Emily Fromel (24th, 22:19.98) and So. Kelly Patrick (25th, 22:23.42).
Sr. Zach Bussard of Valley View was in the individual winner in the Section H Boy’s race. He ran 16:43.00. He held off two other runners who were under 17:00, as well as his twin brother Kyle who ran 4th (17:07.79); Jr. Wyatt Garner of Liberty Union (16:53.41) and Sr. Bayley Tow of Lincoln View (16:58.01).
The 3rd place finisher, Bayley Tow, led the Lincoln View boys to the Section H Boy’s team title scoring 63. Lincoln View ran 3, 6, 17, 18 and 19. Their #2 runner was Sr. Alex Rodriguez (6th, 17:37.44). The other scorers were: .Jr. Colton Snyder (17th, 18:09.50), Jr. Trevor Weate (18th, 18:36.06) and So. Tracy West (195h, (18:13.44).
The Section I Girl’s run was won by sophomore Mary Kate McElroy of Fort Frye in a time of 20:36.00. Ten seconds back of McElroy was Sr. Izzy Farmwald of Chippewa. She ran 20:39.70. Xenia Christian had the #3 and 4 runners. So’s. Rachel Sweeney and Grace Norman (20:54.77, 21:07.13).
The Minster girls scored 49 points in winning the team title and outdistancing the #2 team Xenia Christian (94). The Minster girls demonstrated why they are one of the top ranked teams in the State. They were 5th last year and are the #1 ranked team in the Top Teams By Individual Times ranking. The scorers ran 4, 7, 9, 13 and 16th with their #6 and 7 runners running 17th and 21st. They are led by Jr. Julia Slonkowski (4th, 21:15.47). The #2 runner is So. Morgan Pohl (7th, 21:25.62). #3 is Jr. Kaci Barnhorst (9th, 21:36.70). The 4th and 5th runners are: the sole Sr. Gabrielle Barga (21:43.00) and Fr. Pilar Slonkowski (22:17.15).
Maplewood Jr. Tristen Dahmen won the Section J Boy’s race in 16:22.27. Dahmen was 2nd at State last year and showed why is one of the favorites to win this year as he bested a strong field that included five runners under 17:00 and last year’s #3 State finisher Jon Anderson of Fort Frye (7th, 17:22.05).
Maplewood dominated the Section J Boy’s team race, scoring a low 44 points. They were the State runner’s up last year and made an early season statement that they are one of the favorites to be atop the podium in November. Behind Dahmen were Sr. Derek Morrison who placed 4th in 16:56.20, So. Jake Hall (8th, 17:23.26), Sr. Charlie Woodrum (14th, 17:45.35) and Jr. Nate Keeney (21st, 18:15.06).