So. Felicia Pasadyn in route to win at Mentor Invitational. (Photo Dushan Bouchek)
The varsity girls race started the morning of competition at 9am. Under moderate temperatures and a bright morning sun, So. Felicia Pasadyn, Fr. Juliette Keller, and Sr. Tarynn Cullings were quick to separate into the lead pack. They reached the mile in about 5:58, and remained together through the 2-mile. The group crossed the 2-mile mark in 11:57. With just over a mile to go, Pasadyn was able to assert herself, and pulled away to win in 18:27.3. Juliette Keller of Medina was next in 18:46.7 and her teammate, Tarynn Cullings, clocked a 18:50.1, good for third. So. Katie Engle from Gilmour Academy was fourth in 19:05.7, and Berea-Midpark's Lauren Peterson finished off the top five in a 19:16.6.
In the race for the varsity girls team title, Medina won with 54 points. Brunswick was close behind them with 64 points. Mentor and Berea-Midpark tied for 3rd with Mentor winning the tie breaker.
Brunswick Sr. Andre Bollam-Godbatt is back to back champion at GlenOak and Mentor. (photo Dushan Bouchek)
The varsity boys were next around 9:35am. Despite the increasing temperatures, their times were still outstanding. Early on, there was little separation in the pack. By the time the runners had made their way to the front of the park and past the first mile, Mentor senior Matt Bull had moved to the lead. Bull led through both the mile and 2-mile in 5:03 and 10:09. Brunswick Senior, Andre Bollam-Gobott and Chardon Junior Nate Kawalec were just a second back at both mile marks. Bull and Bollam-Gobott broke away with a mile to go, and soon after, Bollom-Gobott executed a hard surge to pull into the lead. His gap grew to about 20m, and that was enough to hold off Bull. The Brunswick Senior crossed in 15:32.8. Bull finished in 15:40.5. Kawalec was the final runner under 16 minutes, running a 15:49.6. Senior Matt Stump of Medina was 4th in 16:10.7 and Senior Sebastian Francesconi of Westlake was 5th in 16:25.8.
The varsity boys team title went to Medina, winning with 51 points. Mentor was 2nd with 95 points. St. Thomas Aquinas fended off Brunswick in a close fight for third, beating out the Blue Devils 116-119.