Freshman on fire: Elyria High’s Thimke runs away with title at J.B. Firestone Invitational
Paul Heyse | The Chronicle-Telegram
SULLIVAN — Elyria freshman Michelle Thimke ran with the heart and savvy of a senior Saturday as she won Black River’s J.B. Firestone Invitational.
Thimke ran away with the varsity girls title, clocking 20 minutes, 51 seconds to easily defeat Navarre Fairless’ Lauren Webber (21:26).
“I didn’t go too fast in the beginning,” Thimke said. “I just found it in me to pick it up. I just worked on slowly increasing my speed.”
Thimke was in command from the opening gun. She went through the mile mark in 6:20.
“I was surprised that I got that much of a lead,” she said. “I didn’t think that I was going to be able to pull it off.”
The venue has been friendly to Thimke in the past. Last year, she took second in the invite’s middle school race.
Vermilion senior Nate Rodriguez was second (17:13) in the boys varsity race to defending champ Chase Robinson of Fairless (16:56). Firelands senior Nick Jeffers was fourth (17:46).
“It was a tough day, but I’m satisfied,” Rodriguez said. “Chase took over after the first half mile. He got so far out in front of me that I could only see him on the long straightaways.”
Rodriguez labeled his performance a better effort than his last race at Galion, where he clocked 17:20.
Jeffers gutted his way through despite a sore right ankle.
“I was out of training for a total of four weeks this summer because of it,” Jeffers said. “My brother accidentally kicked me during a pick-up soccer game. It hurt pretty bad today, but it’s hurt pretty bad the last few races. I don’t think it’s slowed me up too much. We’re just getting through it right now. I should be ready for conference.”
Both the Elyria girls and Vermilion boys teams were second. Elyria (50) was second to Fairless (35), which placed three runners in the top 10. Vermilion (52) took second to Medina Highland (45), even though the Sailors had three in the top 10.
Senior Jessica Sykes (sixth, 21:49) and freshman Britney March (eighth, 22:11) were also in the top 10 for Elyria.
“The girls worked the race very hard today,” Elyria girls coach Jenn Kaess said. “I’m proud of all of them, They’re a very hard-working bunch of athletes. They are very dedicated and work together well.”
Seniors Danny Nicoll (sixth, 18:00) and Todd Hathaway (ninth, 18:06) joined Rodriguez in the top 10.
“Highland wasn’t at this meet last year,” Vermilion coach Todd Lawson said. “They have a nice team. We were hoping to win it, but our No. 5 runner had some problems. Scott Burger (24th, 19:04) is normally up there with Addam Kitchen (16th, 18:37), but today he wasn’t.”
J.B. Firestone Invitational
At Black River Middle School
BOYS
Team results
1. Medina Highland, 45; 2. Vermilion, 52; 3. Elyria, 84; 4. Firelands, 114; 5. Smithville, 132; 6. Clearview, 167; 7. Madison, 174; 8. Black River, 200; 9. Mapleton, 254; 10. Brookside, 257; 11. Salem Northwestern, 273; 12. Keystone, 295.
Individual results
1. Robinson (FA), 16:56; 2. Rodriguez (V), 17:13; 3. A. Lombardo (MH), 17:37; 4. Jeffers (FIR), 17:46; 5. Davis (MH), 17:49; 5. Stover (SN), 17:51); 6. Nicoll (V), 18:00; 7. Marks (E), 18:04; 8. D. Lombardo (MH), 18:18; 9. Hanreck (SM), 18:19; 10. Tayler (E), 18:24.
Other top local runners
11. Novarese (E), 18:28; 12. Senquiz (CL), 18:29; 14. Kitchen (V), 18:37; 21. Nimon (FIR), 18:54; 23. McFadden (BR), 19:01; 24. Burger (V), 19:04; 25. Rathge (FIR), 19:07.
GIRLS
Team results
1. Navarre Fairless, 35; 2. Elyria, 50; 3. Smithville, 113; 4. Black River, 144; 5. Mapleton, 154; 6. Salem Northwestern, 156; 7. Firelands, 199; 8. Clearview, 201.
Individual results
1. Thimke (E), 20:51; 2. L. Weber (FA), 21:26; 3. Reed (SN), 21:32; 4. Gaut (FA), 21:34; 5. Glasgow (FA), 21:46; 6. Sykes (E), 21:49; 7. Shaw (CL), 21:57; 8. March (E), 22:11; 9. M. Weber (FA), 22:32; 10. Blair (K), 22:46.
Other top local runners
11. Buckley (K), 22:56; 12. Shaw (K), 23:06; 13. Siwierka (E), 23:14; 19. Cremean (V), 23:37; 21. Wade (BR), 23:45; 23. Smith (E), 24:00; 24. Rochford (BR), 24:06; 25. Litten (E), 24:17.
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Filed by Paul Heyse | The Chronicle-Telegram September 21st, 2008 in Sports. Popularity: 1% |
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