Boardman Spartan Invitational Boy's DIII Preview

Just a small preview of OHRunners predicted finish in the Boardman Boy's DIII race this coming weekend.

1. Bellaire Saint John: 

I’ve been saying this for a month now, these boys are good.  Moscato’s 16:56 as a third runner at the Tiffin Carnival rivals that of every Tiffin team champion since Baumspage recorded it (even 2003 State runner’s up McDonald).  A possible sub 16 runner in foster, All-Ohio finishes in Holubeck and Moscato and a fifth man who has already run 17:40.  The only visible weakness was the slight gap from 4th to 5th.  Not team will be able to exploit this at the Spartan Invitational.  The Irish will put 4 in the top 15 and run away with the team title.  I see, with clean conditions, a team time of 17:25-17:30.

2. McDonald: 

The Blue Devils are ready for front running Dugan to emerge.  I look for the McDonald number 1 to finish in 10th place with a time of 17:30 followed by Lance Ronghi at 17:47 and a tight pack of runners at 18:00.  It’s those last three runners that will lift McDonald over number 3 STA and number 4 EC, all placing in the top 25.  If either squad can lodge themselves in that sea of blue, their front running firepower will drop the Blue Devils to 4th.  I see a team time of about 17:40 but only 90 points.

3. Saint Thomas Aquinas: 

The Knights met up with BSJ in week 2 at the Newcomerstown Invitational only to lose by a single point and 5 seconds per runner.  Aquinas’s strength is their one – two combination of Nate Addessi and Jordan McKelley (who both beat BSJ’s number 1).  This might will be muted however because of the lack of true front runners to add points to Aquinas’s opposition.  Maurice Kirksey was able to outlast BSJ’s number 3.  What tips the scales is the 4th and 5th runners who have yet to break 18:00.  This translates to 40 points a piece and a team score of about 110-120.  If STA’s 4 and 5 can locate McDonalds pack, an upset will be in the making.

4. East Canton:

I have looked a the last three years of Tiffin results and compared then to corresponding Boardman years to find about a 32 second difference.  Hence, the Hornets could run about 17:40 – 17:45 at the slightly challenging Spartan course.  Gabe Henning will look to redeem a personal defeat to BSJ number 1 Foster but will have company in Aquinas’s Addessi & McKelley.  Chad Long posted a 16:30 last year at State and J.B. DeRossa is much improved turning in a 17:03 last week.  East Canton will rely in a very young 4th and 5th to round out the scoring but these two give the possibility McDonald.  Look for the Hornets to also be in the 110-120 point range.

5. Maplewood: 

The only information that I could find on the Rockets was a 3rd place finish at their own invitational.  Finishing behind McDonald by about 20 seconds per runner.  Thus I see a team time of 18:00 – 18:10.  Maplewood has a foursome of Juniors led by Rupe and Bottorff who could place in the top 10.  Runners 3 and 4 will run about an 18:00 placing in the top 25.  It’s that 5th runner who will extinguish the flame of the Rockets.

6. Gates Mills Gilmour: 

The Lancers team position will depend number 1 runner Hodge.  I didn’t see him at the Tomahawk which would not have changed the team finish of 3^rd but lowered the average time by 20 seconds per runner.  Merkel is a solid number 1 runner but and even better number 2.  Look for both of them to both finish in the top 17.  Pryatel, Miller and May all break 19:00 at the Boardman course but that only puts them in the top 60 at best.