Cross country roundup: Avon Lake boys, girls runners-up to Brecksville in SWC; Elyria Catholic sweeps North Coast titles
Paul Heyse | The Chronicle-Telegram
ELYRIA — Avon Lake couldn’t fault the effort. State-ranked Brecksville simply was in a league all its own at Saturday’s 43rd annual boys and 32nd annual girls Southwestern Conference cross country meet at Lorain County Community College.
Brecksville put its top five among the top 10 finishers as it ran away with the boys title. Ranked No. 15 in the latest state coaches poll, Brecksville scored 33 points to win its third straight boys title. Avon Lake (73) was second, its best finish since taking second in 2003.
On the girls side, Brecksville put all seven of its runners in the top 15. The No. 10-ranked Bees amassed 39 points as they won their fourth straight title. Led by a 1-2 finish by freshman Katy Link (19:37) and junior Miranda Weed (20:04), Avon Lake was second (94).
Junior Matt Link led the Shoremen. He finished third with a course-best time of 16:48. Junior Jimmy Adams (11th, 17:17) and sophomore Mike Parsons (12th, 17:17) also earned All-SWC honors (top 14) for Avon Lake. Sophomore Mike Ohradzansky (21st, 17:49) also finished in the top 25 for the Shoremen.
“Brecksville ran well. There’s no denying that,” said Matt Link. “Brecksville put five guys between of our No. 1 and 2 runners. Most of the guys from our team had course PRs (personal records). We left it all out there.”
It was the first time since 1999 that the Avon Lake boys team had three runners earn all-conference.
Katy Link, Matt’s sister, and Weed were the class of the girls field. Link was only the fourth freshman to win the girls race since 1978.
“Today was exciting,” Link said. “I’m just hoping to do as well the next couple of years.”
Link follows the footsteps of Amherst’s Christine Thompson (1993) and Brittnee Barris (1999), along with Avon Lake’s Megan McGuire (2000).
“Miranda and I wanted to stick together for as long as we could,” Link said. “It was tough managing where we were at up in the front. We weren’t quite sure how close everyone else was.”
Link’s winning time was the second-fastest time for a freshman in the SWC classic. The best freshman mark was 19:31 set in 1994 by Avon Lake’s Colleen Byrne, who finished second that year to Thompson.
“The heat played a factor,” said Weed, only 14th a year ago. “We still managed to improve our course times from the preview, so we’re fine with that. We definitely wouldn’t be running these kinds of times and doing as well this season without each other.
“From here, it’s all about staying in the top 16 the next two meets (districts and regionals). It’s going to be tough, but we think that we can do it.”
Sophomore Miles Pittak of Amherst was the top local finisher in the boys race, taking second with a personal course-best time of 16:44. Brecksville senior Brett McAdams won in 16:39.
A pinched nerve in his left leg had Pittak concerned. Once the starting gun sounded, Pittak cast all doubts aside.
“I just stuck to the plan and it worked out fine,” Pittak said. “It (the injury) bothered me a little in my warm-up, but never bothered me during the race. Today was a 30-second course PR for me. I just wanted to go sub-17 here, so to run this kind of time I’m very happy. It feels awesome.”
Last year, Pittak was ninth in 17:10.
Boys
Team results
1. Brecksville, 33; 2. Avon Lake, 73; 3. Amherst, 104; 4. North Olmsted, 110; 5. Olmsted Falls, 115; 6. Berea, 127; 7. Westlake, 185; 8. Midpark, 205
Top 25
1. McAdams (BR), 16:39; 2. Pittak (AM), 16:44; 3. Link (AL), 16:44; 4. Lowery (AM), 16:51; 5. Jacobson (BR), 17:01; 6. St. Marie (W), 17:06; 7. Bullard (NO), 17:11; 8. Miner (BR), 17:12; 9. Coroniti (BR), 17:15; 10. Vasic (BR), 17:16; 11. Adams (AL), 17:17; 12. Parsons (AL), 17:17; 13. B. Budic (OF), 17:27; 14. Miller (BR), 17:28; 15. Szczodrowski (AM), 17:30; 16. Herwerden (BE), 17:30; 17. Ryalnd (BR), 17:30; 18. G. Budic (OF), 17:41; 19. Zarycki (NO), 17:44; 20. Denega (BE), 17:45; 21. Ohradzansky (AL), 17:49; 22. Castiner (M), 17:49; 23. Holecko (BE), 17:56; 24. Allen (NO), 17:59; 25. Derr (OF), 18:00
Girls
Team results
1. Brecksville, 39; 2. Avon Lake, 94; 3. Amherst, 98; 4. Berea, 101; 5. North Olmsted, 121; 6. Olmsted Falls, 131; 7. Midpark, 138; 8. Westlake, 192
Top 25
1. Link (AL), 19:37; 2. Weed (AL), 20:04; 3. Dosen (BR), 20:05; 4. Jacobson (BR), 20:08; 5. Lehman (AM), 20:14; 6. Kopasakis (W), 20:18; 7. Wade (BE), 20:21; 8. DiBiasio (BE), 20:21; 9. Paszko (BR), 20:26; 10. Botoulas (OF), 20:51; 11. Greenlee (BR), 21:02; 12. Beaver (BR), 21:06; 13. Thompson (BR), 21:12; 14. Bartholomew (AM), 21:14; 15. Catalano (BR), 21:15; 16. Gut (NO), 21:18; 17. Kovalcsik (BE), 21:34; 18. Bourcier (M), 21:41; 19. Tripi (M), 21:45; 20. Trefny (NO), 21:46; 21. Schuler (AM), 21:48; 22. Goots (NO), 21:49; 23. Clark (OF), 22:11; 24. Bove (AM), 22:13; 25. Duskey (AL), 22:14
North Coast League
CLEVELAND — Elyria Catholic took five of the first six places Saturday to easily win the White Division championship of the North Coast League boys cross country championships at Case Western Reserve University’s Squire Valleevue Farm.
The Panthers had 19 points. Trinity was runner-up with 44.
Marty Coolidge of EC, with a time of 16:30.22, was first overall, finishing more than 38 seconds ahead of second-place Nick Gliha or Trinity. Chase Harshberger of Archbishop Hoban won the Blue Division title at 17:40.62.
EC made it a boy-girl sweep by nipping Trinity, 27-28. The Panthers’ Michelle Clark was first at 20:44.81.
Boys
Team scores
Blue—Archbishop Hoban 23, Lake Catholic 41, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 71, Holy Name 111, Padua 114.
White—Elyria Catholic 19, Trinity 44, Chanel 89, Villa Angela-St. Joseph 119, Cleveland Central Catholic 120.
Top 10
Blue—Chase Harshberger (AH) 17:40.62, Jason Green (AH) 17:47.85, David Loxterman (LC) 18:08.22, Jake Frego (AH) 18:10.89, Chris Alto (AH) 18:18.42, Jack Stanovsek (NDCL) 18:21.19, Rick Teter (LC) 18:31.28, Tim Wilhelm (LC) 18:31.61, Mike Cirino (LC) 18:31.99, Austin Bannister (P) 18:32.69.
White—Marty Coolidge (EC) 16:30.22, Nick Gliha (T) 17:08.87, Dan Kuhman (EC) 17:30.04, Bryce Steindl (EC) 17:34.63, Mat Wiehe (EC) 17:52.77, William Sellers (EC) 18:30.24, Cody Tschantz (C) 18:30.63, Rob Morel (T) 18:30.99, Patrick Foreman (EC) 18:49.53, Eric Godbey (T) 18:58.56.
Girls
Team scores
Blue—Archbishop Hoban 45, Holy Name 47, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 47, Padua 104, Lake Catholic 121.
White—Elyria Catholic 27, Trinity 28, Chanel 80.
Top 10
Blue—Andi Cribari (NDCL) 20:27/33, Kaitlyn Chrostowski (AH) 21:10.15, Elyce Doering (NDCL) 21:20.48, Catherin Benedict (HN) 21:36.80, Gabby Snyder (NDCL) 21:50.00, Stephanie Milos (LC) 21:50.40, Natasha Myhal (HN) 22:08.30, Mary Catherine Powers (HN) 22:20.93, Kathy Toth (AH) 21:31.81, Liz Santucci (AH) 22:33.82.
White—Michelle Clark (EC) 20:44.81, Angel Theurer (T) 21:25.55, Evann Heidersbach (EC) 21:36.06, Marissa Rose (T) 21:48.46, Jamie Lombardo (T) 22:06.24, Alexa Rick (EC) 22:18.07, Lindsey Ibos (T) 23:18.82, Kristin Concheck (EC) 23:20.17, Andrea Price (EC) 23:21.85, Ariana Willin (T) 23:36.14.
West Shore Conference
BAY VILLAGE — Michael Brajdic and Jordan Hawkins of Bay finished first and second, but it wasn’t enough to give the Rockets an outright championship at the West Shore Conference meet at Cahoon Park.
Bay and Rocky River shared the boys championship with 43 points. Brajdic turned in a time of 16:06.35 and Hawkins ran a 16:17.81. Rocky River was led by Tommy Eldridge (16:38.85) third, Eric Stoddard (16:52.61) fifth and Collin Richards (17:27.14) eighth.
Rocky River also won the girls championship with 30 points, well ahead runner-up Avon’s 60.
Boys
Team scores
Bay 43, Rocky River 43, Vermilion 72, Avon 104, Firelands 128, Fairview 145, Midview 186, North Ridgeville 193.
Top 25
Michael Brajdic (B) 16:06.35, Jordan Hawkins (B) 16:17.81, Tommy Eldridge (RR) 16:38.85. Nate Rodriguez (V) 16:46.16, Eric Stoddard (RR) 16:52.61, Nicholas Jeffers (Fi) 17:11.47, Andy Ventura (A) 17:13.94, Collin Richards (RR) 17:27.14, Todd Hathaway (V) 17:31.05, Tyler Kvach (A) 17:33.50, Martin Russ (RR) 17:34.02, Brian Zeuch (B) 17:39.40, Alex Meyers (B) 17:40.84, Scott Burger (V) 17:41.05, Matt Windahl (B) 17:43.29, Daniel Parris (RR) 17:467.72, Kyle Sharp (B) 17:51.08, Jeremy Farver (B) 17:54.58, Carter Phillips (B) 17:54.77, Alex Rokakis (RR) 18:00.98, Kyle Nimon (F) 18:01.20, Wade Clark (Fa) 18:01.94, Danny Nicoll (V) 18:02.97, Nick Banks (B) 18:03.40, Adam Kitchen (V) 18:03.94.
Girls
Team scores
Rocky River 30, Avon 60, Bay 80, Midview 87, North Ridgeville 138, Fairview 155, Firelands 213.
Top 25
Jessica Zangmeister (Fa) 18:04.04, Brittany Towner (RR) 19:51.28, Erin Schneider (A) 19:58.85, Hanna Sterle (B) 20:08.71, Paige Nagy (RR) 20:24.49, Elyse Bierut (RR) 20:34.61, Megan Auzenbergs (RR) 20:59.00, Lauren Hutka (M) 20:59.55, Kayla Welch (A) 21:03.60, Jenna Berg (RR) 21:06.81, Brianna Adams (M) 21:15.17, Liz Bruno (A) 21:17.24, Megan O’Keefe (RR) 21:19.40, Maddie Toth (A) 21:24.74, Becca Lamb (NR) 21:25.71, Maddie Duncan (M) 21:33. 20, Lisa Griebel (B) 21:38.21, Jessica Gale (B) 21:29.46, Jennifer Pease (RR) 21:52.53, Kelsey Barnes (B) 21:52.74, Lindsay Stranahan (B) 21:54.84, Jacqui Sparks (RR) 22:12.44, Devon DeLorge (A) 22:14.27, Gabi Patarini (M) 22:16.74, Emily Starr (A) 22:26.57.
Northeast Ohio Conference
PARMA — The Elyria boys and girls teams each finished with 92 points at the Northeast Ohio Conference River Division championship at Cuyahoga Community College-West.
The Elyria boys were fourth out of six teams and the girls were third. Dustin Thomas of North Royalton (16:35) won the boys title and North Royalton’s Hannah Neczypor was tops for the girls with a meet-record 18:16.
Boys
Team scores
Stow 30, North Royalton 56, Normandy 76, Elyria 92, Parma 122, Valley Forge 125
Top 10
Dustin Thomas (NR) 16:35, Phil Ruolo (S) 17:02, Steve Piotrowski (N) 17:06, Nick Brenner (S) 17:08, Tom Hipwell (P) 17:15, Jacob Poldruhi (NR) 17:16, Greg Oneacre (S) 17:21, Justin Pesich (S) 17:24, Nick Hall (S) 17:37, Keith Novarese (E) 17:41.
Girls
Team scores
North Royalton 31, Stow 35, Elyria 92, Valley Forge 101, Normandy 123, Parma 156.
Top 10
Hannah Neczypor (NR) 18:16, Abby Koch (S) 18:43, Katie Betts (S) 19:23, Shaina Kovatch (VF) 19:50, Dana Tomasello (NR) 20:08, Beverly Vetovitz (NR) 20:12, Jessica Duhamel (S) 20:23, Leah Lehotsky (NR) 20:27, Alex Scott (VF) 20:32 Tessa Wilson (S) 20:49.
Patriot Athletic Conference
Clearview senior Brianna Shaw won the Clippers’ first-ever individual conference title at the fourth annual Patriot Athletic Conference meet at the Lorain County Equestrian Center in LaGrange.
Shaw, who finished 18th last year in 24:09, ran away from the field to clock a winning time of 20 minutes, 47 seconds. Freshman Cait Shaw (no relation, 21:18) and junior Nikki Blair (21:25) of Keystone rounded out the top three.
The Keystone girls came up just shy in the team race as Buckeye won its fourth straight title, 40-43.
Buckeye won it third boys title in four years, outdistancing Clearview, 24-55. Clearview senior Angel Senquiz led the Clippers, taking third (17:29).
Boys
Team scores
1. Buckeye (BU), 24; 2. Clearview (CL), 55; 3. Wellington (W), 88; 4. Black River (BR), 105; 5. Brookside (B), 123; 6. Lutheran West (LW), 152; 7. Columbia (C), 187
top 25
1. Miller (BU), 16:55; 2. Ferguson (BU), 17:14; 3. Senquiz (CL), 17:29; 4. Cruz (CL), 17:52; 5. Hunt (BU), 17:56; 6. Vanbolderen (BU), 18:08; 7. Jeske (B), 18:10; 8. McFadden (BR), 18:15; 9. C. Watson (CL), 18:32; 10. Vasen (BU), 18:36; 11. Shook (BU), 18:47; 12. Stafinski (BU), 18:55; 13. Comfort (W), 18:56; 14. Bliss (W), 19:09; 15. Schmidt (CL), 19:11; 16. Brown (W), 19:12; 17. Ziebro (BR), 19:15; 18. Neigh (B), 19:16; 19. Randolph (BR), 19:18; 20. Hall (W), 19:21; 21. Bradley (B), 19:24; 22. VanHorn (C), 19:40; 23. Bailey (LW), 19:45; 24. K. Watson (CL), 19:56; 25. Leiby (W), 20:14
girls
Team scores
1. Buckeye, 40; 2. Keystone, 43; 3. Black River, 85; 4. Lutheran West, 99; 5. Brookside, 123; 6. Clearview, 136
top 25
1. Shaw (CL), 20:47; 2. Shaw (K), 21:18; 3. Blair (K), 21:25; 4. Karr (BU), 21:35; 5. Buckley (K), 21:51; 6. Culley (LW), 21:51; 7. Yagel (BU), 21:56; 8. Chambers (BU), 22:02; 9. Neigh (B), 22:14; 10. Benner (BU), 22:23; 11. Demczyk (BU), 22:27; 12. Voytovich (LW), 22:37; 13. Wade (BR), 22:42; 14. Conrad (K), 22:46; 15. Rochford (BR), 22:59; 16. Periandri (BR), 23:00; 17. Kennedy (BU), 23:02; 18. Norregaard (BR), 23:34; 19. Gordon (K), 23:52; 20. Kisiday (BU), 23:58; 21. Smith (B), 24:05; 22. Benjamin (K), 24:42; 23. Brown (BR), 24:47; 24. Cusumann (CL), 25:16; 25. Bastock (K), 25:29
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Filed by Paul Heyse | The Chronicle-Telegram October 12th, 2008 in Sports. Popularity: 1% |
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