The fall sports season kicks off this week for local high schools and this Friday, Aug. 23, 2013 marks the 3rd annual Moeller Primetime Invitational sponsored by Buckeye Running Company at the Bruin Golf Course in Kings. Runners compete on the golf course under portable lights with Kings Island in the background.
This year boys defending meet champion and state champion St. Xavier will begin their title defense with some new faces on the varsity level. “We had some good senior runners last year and after our top three runners, we probably have six guys competing for those last four spots,” Bomber head coach Mike Dehring said. Not every runner is new for this squad. Returning are seniors Evan Stifel (32nd at 2012 state meet, 15:40 5k PR) and individual state contender Michael Hall (24th at 2012 state meet, state runner-up in 1600m run in 4:09, 15:26 5k PR). Junior Michael Vitucci (state qualifier in 1600m run in 4:15, 16:24 5k PR) joins these two as once again St. X rolls out a formidable top three runners.
The Bombers will start this year contending with Troy (team regional qualifier in 2012), which features junior Brandon Nosker (54th at 2012 state meet, 16:09 5k PR) and sophomore Stephen Jones (16:42 5k PR) and Moeller led by juniors Mitch Poch and Drew Denoyer. “We are inexperienced but we expect to have a pretty competitive team this year,” Moeller head coach Dave Prenger said.
The girls race is even more loaded with two of the top individuals in the state racing each other to start the season. Defending individual champion from Lebanon, Jacquelyn Crow (17:39 5k PR) starts off her title defense against her top challenger and meet champion from last year junior Annie Heffernan (17:45 5k PR, state record holder in 3200m run, national runner-up in 2-mile) in what should be the race of the meet. Other individuals to look for in the meet include Madison King (19th at 2012 state meet, 19:04 5k PR) from Northeastern, Alex Groene (29th at 2012 state championship, 18:59 5k PR) from Alter and her teammate Maria Grilliot (43rd 2012 state championship, 19:38 5k PR). The team race appears to be a three team competition between Alter, St. Ursula and Seton.
The team champions will take home the McCarty Cup, named for a former Moeller cross country parent who passed away in 2012 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Races start at 5:30 pm and awards will be presented at 9:30 pm. “We encourage everyone to come out and enjoy our sport,” Prenger said.