Northwest Review 4

There was plenty of action in the northwest and around the nation, although there are still a few people of interest, who are yet to run.   Of course, that being said, our friends in Alaska had a quite week, while many teams geared up for next weekend’s regional meets.   For them the State meet looms at the end of the month.   Of course for the region’s fan there was much from which to choose but, if one effort stands out, it was the performance of Amy-Eloise Neale at Sundodger.

  Amy-Eloise Neale

      Last year fans at Lincoln Park in Washington were almost stunned to see the times turned in by Kendra Weitz, when she defeated Maddie Meyers by six seconds with her time of 17:21.  Both runners were already Foot Locker alumni but even so, those times were swift.   Even learning that the Sundodger course only measured 4,922 meters did little to temper the enthusiasm of spectators.   With times such as those one might have thought that they would both remain unchallenged for some time, yet Amy-Eloise Neale of Glacier Peak all but toyed with them as she flew over the course to the tune of 16:31.  The time is so swift that it is quite hard to fully contemplate but it is safe to say that Amy has to be included in all discussions about leading American preps.   Simply stated Neale deserves a chance at Foot Locker:  she is that good!  Here team mate Katie Bianchini is an excellent runner in her own right and she raced home alone in second to record a time of 17:26.  Megan Beauchene of Kamiakin is in her first season of XC but she is recording fine times early as evidenced by her mark of 18:06, which saw her finish third.     Hazel Carr, who followed four-time State 1A champion Meyers last year, placed fourth with a time of 18:29.  The runner for The Northwest School in Seattle ran 18:29.   Jessica Peterson of South Kitsap placed fifth with 18:34 and was followed by yet another Glacier Peak runner, Megan Davis, who ran 18:46.   Michelle Fletcher of Kamiakin followed in seventh with 18:51.  Natalie Sharp of Garfield earned eighth with 18:54 and Courtney Cox of Walla Walla followed five seconds later.   Kendall Jones of Garfield claimed eleventh in 19:11 and Katherine Dittmann of Glacier Peak was next.  

      Joe Hardy romped in the guys’ race by winning in 14:57.  Although he was well of the pace of 14:33 set by Nathan Weitz last year, as well as Jacob Smith, who ran 14:41, one has to remember that the Seattle Prep runner is still only a junior and he placed fourth last year in 15:20.   Jamie Coughlin of Garfield secured second with 15:16 and Kamiakin’s Keegan McCormick took third with 15:18.   Defending 4A champion Gig Harbor swept the next three places as Wolfgang Beck, Tristan Peloquin and Logan Carroll finished fourth through sixth with versions of 15:23.  Jesse Hooton (15:27) & Sean                             Newcomb (15:31) claimed the next two places before Kamiakin’s Garrett Krall finished ninth in 15:33.  Mason Nicol & Ben Wolpert rounded out the top eleven finishers.  The team race was somewhat of a surprise as Kamiakin’s depth trumped Gig’s power up front and the final result was 53 to 89.           

 

                                                                                                Moses Lake

    Daniel Amann of Deer Park led the guys with 15:49 and Sierra Speiker of Oroville topped the girls with 19:09.

 

 

                                                                                Fort Steilacoom

    Jordan McPhee

  Jordan McPhee repeated as the winner here but her time of 18:50 was well off last year’s record of 17:46.   Olympia’s Sofia Kane hung with the Foot Locker finalist most of the way before falling off the pace & finishing in 18:57. Rose Christen of Central Kitsap finished third with 19:05.  Nicholas Hauger of Shadle Park scored in the boys’ race with 15:41, while Dallas Snider of W F West (15:46) & Mohamud Abdi of Lindbergh (15:46) took second & third.  The team races went to Olympia, led by Peter Kesting in fifth, for the boys & Snohomish for the girls.  Hauger was only three seconds of the winning time of Korey Krotzer last year of 15:38.  

   

                                                                             South Whidbey

 

      The course here is deceptive and does not often yield swift times but Patrick Gibson of Squalicum appears to have had no great issue as he sped across the finish in 15:46.  Nathan Wadwani of Terry Fox was second in 16:03 and Drew Schreiber of Eisenhower was third in 16:09.   Dillon Quintana of Mt. Baker & Conner Johnsen of Sehome claimed 4^th & 5^th.  Henry Jackson won a very close boys’ race, which saw Kamiak originally tie with 68, Eisenhower 76 & Squalicum 79, as Jadon Olson led the way with his sixth place effort of 16:16.   Sally Larson of tiny Cedar Park Christian showed that she has improved this year by winning the girls’ race with 18:29.  Brittany Gappa of Squalicum (18:38) & Emily Pettis of Sehome (19:03) placed 2^nd & 3^rd while Brooke Kingma of HJ ran 19:31 for fourth.  Fifth went to Haley Suarez with 19:33.  Sehome easily topped the girls’ team race with 45 points with Henry Jackson a distant second.

 

                                                                                Mead Invitational

   Andrew Gardner won Saturday’s Mead Invitational with a time of 16:31.  Logan Giese of Central Valley came in second with 16:40.   Sanne Holland topped the girls’ field with 19:00.  The Cheney star was unchallenged, as Anna Henry of Northwest Christian School was next with 20:17.

 

                                                                Lower Woodland Quad Meet

      Although hardly a major meet, this Seattle race featured Joe hardy,  who cruised to victory in 15:52.  His team mate Keegan Piper followed in 16:03.   Moira O’ Connor of Holy Names was the leading girl with 20:00, while Maddie Cavanaugh of Seattle prep took second with 20:08.

 

                                                                GSL Opener

      There was a fair amount of expectation in Spokane as Mead & North Central squared off in league competition.  With thoughts of a match-up between Andrew Gardner of mead & Kai Wilmot of NC tantalizing fans there was more than a bit of disappointment as Wilmot, gingerly running with a slight muscle strain, ran behind a number of his team mates.  Wilmot aside Gardner, a two-time Foot Locker national finalist, still had to contend with Sumner Goodwin of Lewis & Clark nut Gardner sealed the victory with a time of 15:34.  Goodwin came in nine seconds later, while Tanner Anderson of NC placed third with 15:51.  North swept the next five places to seal the victory.  Katie Knight romped in the girls’ race with 18:18.     Gonzaga Prep defeated Shadle park in both the girls’ & guys’ races in their duel with Nicholas Hauger easily topping the boys with 16:50.

 

                                                                District 9 League Meet

    This league meet in Pasco saw Heather Siegel of St. Johns Endicott win with 21:15 & Victoria Nunez of Tri-Cities prep come in next with 21:52.  Seth Deal (17:01) & Tewedros McDowell (18:00) went 1 – 2 for Waitsburg-Prescott but Tri-Cities Prep, led by Sam Leon (18:03), swept the six places to overwhelm their competition.

                                                                      Oregon

                                                                Saxon Invitational

     The race held at Bush Pasture Park in Salem is the most venerable meet in the state of Oregon and can boast a tradition of winners that includes Olympian Dan Browne & Foot locker finalists Andrew Hunt & Stuart Eagon, so it is very sad not to see the support that the meet deserves historically.   That said freshman Brooke Chuhlantseff burst onto the scene with a time to be noted of 18:15.  Dallas runner Mary Kate McGuire earned second with 18:29 and Beaverton’s Erin Gregoire was third with 18:40.  Corvallis, led by the fourth place finish of Justine Feist (19:45) annexed the girls’ team title 65 to best Mountain View’s 82.  Beaverton’s Dan Oekerman was noticeably missing, which left the door open for Sam King of Mountain View, who won with 17:16.

 

                                                                Molalla Invitational

   Brett Willyard of Seaside won with   16:31 & Olivia Powell led the girls with 19:54.

 

                                                                                Silver Falls Invitational

   Did not want anyone to think we overlooked this meet but the results make little sense, unless a legion of runners surpassed Billy Harper’s record, which has been unassailable for two decades.  Sad because we have always enjoyed the Oktoberfest meet, which features “the monster.”   

 

                                                                                Festival of Champions

Travis Neuman

      Travis Neuman of Summit made his first invite of the season a successful one, as he won with 15:45.  James Dagley of Tahoma ran a PR, as he took second with 16:09 to edge Matthew Maton of the Storm, who was credited with the same time.  Mark Tedder of Battle Ground earned fourth with 16:12 & Keegan Symmes of Skyline came in fifth with 16:17.  Mitchell Butler of Siuslaw was 6^th with 16:26 & Nick Obletz of Oregon Episcopal edged Colby Gilbert of Skyview 16:36 to 16:37.   Riley Campbell of Tahoma was 9^th & Tanner Smith 10^th.   Eric Aldritt of Summit had no trouble in garnering the second flight, as he trumped the field with 16:06.  Matthew Campbell of Siuslaw was second with 17:01.  Travis Scacco of Tahoma & Luke Hinz of Summit took the next two places.   The Clackamas Community College course surprisingly yielded only one time under nineteen minutes and that was authored by Nicole Goecke of Prairie, who ran 18:59.  Nicole is off to a fine start this season and earlier earned second at the Capital Invite.  Charlotte Corless of Sunset took second with 19:00 and Piper McDonald of Summit ran 19:46 for third.   Sunset’s Sarah Fahmy came in fourth.

 

                                                                                Pre-SWC Meet

     Maggie Schmaedick won the Junior-Senior flight with the best female time of the day of 19:43. Erin Clark of South Eugene placed second with 20:11 and Carmen Mejia of South Medford was third with 21:26.  Gracie Tostenson of Crater claimed fourth with 21:31.  Gracie Todd of Sheldon ran 20:06 to score in the Freshman-Sophomore race and Phacelia Cramer of South Eugene placed second with 21:21.   Sara Tsai did not run.   Jackson Darland of Sheldon swept the honors for the guys with 16;40, while Blake Spencer of North Medford & Kenny Freeman of Roseburg followed.   Josiah Burson of Roseburg led the underclassmen boys.

 

 

                                                                                Pre-Skyline Meet

      Mid-week action took place at Klamath Falls, where two-time 4A State champion Alisha Luna won her early league meet with an 18:56 clocking.  Christina Tyson of KU was second with 20:11.   David Cornish of North Valley scored in the male varsity race with 16:42.  Todd Delaney of Mazama was second with 16:52. 

 

 

                                                                                Pier Park Invitational

      We’ve already covered this race in Portland but Alexa Efraimson’s victory over Sara Tsai of South Eugene & her very solid team mates bears repeating.  Kyle Thompson ran a fine 16:03 with Reilly Bloomer of South Eugene only six seconds back.   

                                https://or.milesplit.com/articles/92390-pier-park-invitational

 

                                                                                Hood River Invitational

     It was a close battle between 5A powers Hermiston & Franklin in the boys’ race but Hermiston, led by Alejandro Cisneros, grabbed the title by a 35 to 44 margin.  Jackson Packham of Franklin was second with 16:22 and Jose Macias, the winner of the Hermiston Invitational, placed third with 16:25.  The race marked the return to action of Eduardo Juarez of the Bull Dogs, who finished fifth in16:42.   Also returning to action was Maggie Coleman, who won the girls’ race with 19:08.  Grace Grim of HRV and Katie Markwick of Hermiston followed in second & third.

                                                https://or.milesplit.com/articles/92184-hood-river-invitational

 

 

                                                                Three River League/Mt.  Hood Cross-Over

        There were two races of note this week held at Clackamas Community College and Grant freshman Ella Donaghu surprised not only the field but her sister with her victory in 19:03.  Her sister Piper finished three seconds behind her and Kennedy Allen, yet another freshman but from David Douglas, came in third with 19:36.   Paige Rice ran with her St. Mary’s Academy early before turning on the jets late & threading her way through the field.  Her final time was 19:52 but it matters little in the general scheme of things.    Julian Heninger, who earlier claimed the elite race at Wilsonville ran 16:42 for the victory as Jackson Haselnus of Barlow came in just two seconds later.   Todd Macdonald of Lake Oswego earned third with 16:46 & Ian Stevens of Reynolds followed in 4^th.   West Linn won the boys’ team title led by the fifth place finish of Taylor Griffin in 16:58.  SMA topped Grant in the girls’ team race.

 

                                                                                Idaho

        Pocatello sophomore Elijah Armstrong remains untested after his victory in the Rigby Invite.   His time  of 16:32 gave him a margin of half a minute over his challengers, who were led by his team mate Haydin Herndon, who was clocked in 17:04.  Driztin Herndon was but a second behind as Pocatello swept the top three places and they, of course, romped to a team title 36 to 72.  Rachel McGovern of Pocatello led the girls with 19:37, although her team mate Presli Hutchinson, who won the Tiger/Grizz, did not run.   Olivia Redd finished second in 19:50.     Next week is the Firman Invitational at Eagle Island State Park, which should offer everyone a wonderful test.   Wish we could be on hand!

 

                                                                Coeur d’ Alene Invitational

    Sam Levora of Sand Point zipped home in 15;35, while Kyler Rice of Lake City came in second with 15:55.   Josie Brown (18:42) led her team mates Punky Duran (18:45) and Emily Callahan (18:56) as CDA won both team titles.

 

                                                                Clash in the Valley

     While many Idaho teams lay low over the weekend in preparation for the Firman Meet there was action of note in meridian, where they held the Clash in the Valley.   Mikayla Malaspina of Vallivue won with a time of 19:24.  Lila Klopfenstein of Meridian earned second with 19:29 & Louise Serpe of Timberline was third with 19:34.  It was a solid girls’ field with Cheryn Trapp of Vallivue coming in fourth (19:55.   Sam Mckinnon of Mountain View had an off day placing ninth with 20:34.   Dwain Stucker of Meridian topped the guys with 16:21 and Andrew Rafla led a trio of Timberline runners with his second place effort of 16:32.

 

                                                                     Alaska

                                                                Kenai Peninsula

       Allie Ostrander soared again, as she won by almost two minutes – this young lady just has to go to Foot Locker!   Her winning time was 18:02.   Miles Knotek of Seward ran 16:57 and Jordan Theisen of Kenai was second in 17:08. 

 

 

                                                                Anchorage Quad Meet

       Rachel Roelle of West Anchorage topped the field with her 19:34 with Sierra Richardson of Eagle River taking second.  David McPhetres of Chugiak topped the guys with 16:57 & Drini Redzepi of West came in second.

 

 

                                                                Jim Cavanaugh Invitational

     Julia Meyer of West Valley led the race in Fairbanks, as Macala Fifield of Monroe Catholic was second.   Sam King of the WV Malamutes secured the individual title, as he led a phalanx of Malamutes, who dominated the top seven by taking five places.

 

                                                               

                                                               

                                                                Trinity Valkyrie Invitational

                                                            Tom Sawyer Park - Louisville

 

      There is something percolating these days in Kentucky.   Although the state has not usually been considered one of the preeminent sources of harrier talent like California, New York & New Jersey or even Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Virginia or Washington, there is suddenly a surge of talent in Blue Grass State.   The Trinity Valkyrie Invitational of Saturday, which was held just outside of Louisville, offered some top notch action of national caliber on both the individual and team levels.   The boys’ competition this weekend evidenced action reminiscent of the time a decade ago, when Bobby Curtis rose to national prominence at Foot Locker. 

     The varsity guys saw Kentucky star Jacob Thomson take the lead early with West Virginia’s Jacob Burcham of Cabell Midland just off his shoulder.    Although they were the two obvious stars in the race, the rest of the field did not shy away from the action up front as Patrick Gregory of Butler and Josh Steible of Centreville, Ohio followed close behind.   Burcham should be a familiar name in the Northwest after his gutsy race last winter at the Dempsey Center at UW, when he charged down the stretch going for the win but fell victim to Marcus Dickson’s furious finish at the Brooks PR Invitational.   With his 4:02 mile speed Thomson raced in a manner, so that the race would not come down to a final kick.   Of course Thomson, who placed third in this race behind the victorious Burcham, was going for the victory as he “defended my home turf.”    Of course, if Thomson needed any further inspiration, the fact that his rival was ranked “fourth in the nation” offered more than enough and the race offered a chance to improve his own ranking and credentials.  With that in mind the Kentucky comet pushed the pace and went through the first mile in 4:47.   That pace eliminated the rest of the competition, save Burcham, who remained with his rival.

Thomson wins

        Racing with the finish of the race still in mind Thomson continued to push the pace and went through the two mile mark in 9:42.  Burcham followed only a stride or so further back and appeared to be feeling the effects of the pace but, instead of resigning himself to an effort in pursuit Burcham through in two surges in an attempt to “break” his opponent:  a valiant gamble to say the least.   As they made the final turn towards home Thomson began his charge down the stretch and drew away, which saw him triumph in a time of 14:57 – a time that was adjusted after the race & originally appeared to be 14:52 & change.  Thomson threw his arms up in victory, as he crossed the finish line, so pumped was he for the duel.   That final clocking matches the time that Chris Walden ran in 2010 before he qualified for his second Foot locker National meet.   Foot Locker is Thomson’s goal and he certainly appears to have the ‘right stuff.’

  Jacob Burcham

    Burcham, who hopes he & his team qualify for Portland, finished second in 15:09 and his effort on this day showed his courage.   William Robertson of Brougham earned third with a fine time of 15:27, as he edged Nicholas Laureano of Lexington Catholic by a second.   Josh Steible took fifth in 15:30 edging Sam Lewis of Xavier, who was credited with the same time.   Taylor Caldwell of Brentwood ran 15:31 nipping his team mate Alec Thomas, who finished just off his shoulder.   Patrick Gregory held on for ninth (15:38) and Connor Sheryak of Xavier, who won last weeks’ “Rumble In the Jungle” finished tenth in 15:43.  The magnitude of the quality can be seen, when one realizes that eleventh place went to Aaron Thomas of Brentwood with 15:46, yet eight other runners followed him across the line within only eight seconds.    It was an impressive display of racing in Kentucky and, if Northwest fans wonder about the course, it compares with that of Clackamas Community College, where the Festival of Champions was held on Saturday.

   

     As great as the quality was for the guys the gals’ field was loaded as well.  The race was a bit deceiving, for the young ladies of Assumption ran as a pack early.   By the mile mark, which saw Samantha Siler of Sycamore in the lead, the Assumption girls final separated.   At that point there was a pack of nine runners in pursuit, which included Whitney O’Bryan of Daviess County, Cassidy Hale of Dupont Manual, Haley & Kelsey Harris plus Kelcy Welch of Carmel and Megan Sullivan of Broughton.  Safely tucked in with the group were Katherine Receveur and Bailey Davis of Assumption.

       There was little change during the next mile except there was no real leader by the time that they passed the two-mile mark.  Things began to happen in the last mile and Receveur made a move on the modest hills.   She “took off and passed the first girl” and later admitted that she “thought I had the race in the bag” only to be surprised, when her team mate Davis stormed down the stretch to claim the victory.  Her time was a stunning 17:46.  Receveur followed only a second later, while Megan Sullivan was third with a brisk mark of 17:51.   All three runners were convincingly under the 2009 course record of 17:57 established by Emma Brink of Sacred Heart, who was a Foot Locker qualifier her senior year in 2010.   Carmel showed that it ought to be higher in the national rankings by not only winning the race but by individually taking the next three places.   Kelcy Welch (18:08), Haley Harris (18:10) & Kelsey Harris (18:12) all contributed to the Carmel cause by securing places four through six. 

Siler

     Samantha Siler, who cut the early pace, came in seventh with 18:3 and Maggie Allen of Sacred Heart followed six seconds later in eighth.   Carmel took the next two places, as Gina Genco (18:26) & Ellen Schmitz (18:29) rounded out the top ten.   Whitney O’Bryan ran a fine 18:30 for eleventh.   As in the boys’ race there was plenty of quality and the top twenty girls were all under nineteen minutes.  It’s not just the guys, who need to be considered & watched.

     It should be noted that this is the oldest meet in Kentucky and the course has been changed a number of times.   Bobby Curtis ran 14:41, when he was a prep, but on a different version.  Coach Joe Buechler won this race in 1980 with 14:52 on yet another iteration of the course, so there have been at least three courses, if not more, at Tom Sawyer Park.

Davis & Receveur

 

                                                                                MSU Spartan Invite

      There was a clash of female titans at East Lansing on the Michigan State campus as Foot Locker national finalists Julia Bos & Erin Finn met for an early season duel.  Bos from Grand Rapids won this round with an excellent time of 17:20, while Finn earned second with 17:35.  Behind them followed a stellar field that included third place finisher Hannah Meier who ran 17:50.   Zoe Morse edged Brooke Kovacic with both credited with 18:09.  Kenzie Weiler was sixth in 18:10 and Haley Meier placed 7^th with 18:11.   Nathan Burnand ran 15:21 yet only had a margin of two seconds over Tanner Hinkle.   Jeff Bajema ran 15:29 for third & Sean Pengelly came in fourth with 15:32.  T J Carey was fifth in 15:41.  The race had thirteen runners go under sixteen minutes.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                California

                                                                Mt. Carmel Invitational

     Kelly Lawson, rather appropriately, wore a (Foot Locker) “West Region 2010” T-Shirt as she warmed up on the Morley Field course at Balboa Park, where the Foot Locker National Championship is held, and then she ran like a finalist.  Despite very hot conditions, which later forced meet officials to shorten the distances, Lawson claimed her fourth meet flight year by topping the field in the senior division.  Her time for the 2.7 mile course was 15:41, which was quite fast given the conditions.   Her team mate Emma Abrahamson ran a little later, when it was even hotter, but she won the junior race in 15:31. It was the third such victory for Emma, who is but a junior.   La Costa Canyon got the bonus of a second in that race, as Rebekah Bosler came away with second.    The boys’ race had a familiar ring to it as Tal Braude repeated his victory over Steven Fahy:  this time by a 15:26 to 15:35 margin, although once again the difference was only down the stretch.  The times were for 2.9 miles this time.

                               

                                                                Woodbridge Invitational

    Woodbridge in Irvine usually has strong competition and this year was no exception, as Sarah Baxter raced to victory in 16:12 (3 Miles).  The Simi runner did not blow away the field in spite of her time and Hagen Reedy of Buchanan was only five seconds behind.  Paige Tennison of Newport Harbor came in third with 16:33 and was followed across the finish line by Ali Telba (16:36) & Chelsey Totten (16:37).   Bryan Fernandez claimed a solid victory in 14:19, while Oscar Carn secured second in 14:24.   Miguel Bautista followed two seconds later with Mitchell Pratt (14:27) & Estevan De La Rosa (16:29), both from Arcadia.   Arcadia, although not as strong as a few years ago with Ammar Moussa looks to be a force once again this fall.

 

 

                                                                New York

                                                V V S (Vernon Verona) Invitational

     Ryan Manahan of Marcellus, you have got to love an area with town names with Greek & Roman historical influences, was the only harrier under sixteen minutes and he rolled to victory in a time of 15:53.  Alec Peinkofer of Baldwinsville came in 2^nd with 16:31 and Jack Scott of Fairport was next with 16:45.   Erin McConnell of Fabius-Pompey annexed her second invitational of the season by coming home in 18:43.  Megan Ann Pierce of CBA was second with 19:03 & Abby Gugel of Jordan-Elbridge placed third.

 

 

                                                                Colorado

                                                           Liberty Bell Invite

       This was another loaded field but Jordyn Colter of Cherry Park had little trouble on her way to a winning time of 17:01.  Erin Hooker of Fort Collins was second with 17:38, which was just ahead of Isabelle Kennedy, who ran 17:40.  Rachael Chacko of Smoky Hill finished a second before Emma Gee of legacy with her 17:49 clocking.   The guys were hardly slouches either with their strong performances.  Ricky Faure of Rock Springs won with 15:31 & Alec Brudzinski (15:43) of Cherry Creek earned second.

 

                                                                Montana

                                                         Ronan Invitational

      Makena Morley also ran away from her challengers by negotiating the course in 17:14.  Although well behind the winner Sabrina Sterbis was clocked in a time that most girls’ would love to run, as she was timed in 17:56, which gave  her a secure safety margin over the third place time of 18:09 authored.   Zach Perrin had no trouble as he rolled to victory in 14:28 with Adam Peterman taking second in 15:15.  Paden Alexander came home in 15:19.  Fischer Gangemi (15:28) & Drew Gottman (15:30) earned 4^th & 5^th.  The Hellgate boys and Hamilton girls took the team titles.

 

 

                                                                                Great Falls Invite

      Troy Fraley of Kalispell Glacier won with 15:54 with a margin of nearly fifty seconds.  Chiara Warner of Broadwater led the girls with 18:45 and Caroline Hardin of Bozeman finished second with 19:28.  Hardin had placed second the previous weekend in the Tiger/Grizz.

 

 

 

                                                                                New Jersey

                                                                    Roxbury Invitational

       Mackenzie Barry of Mendham, who has stated that she has two main goals for the season, got her fall campaign off to a good start by winning here in 16:34.  Running in New Jersey it is not a surprise that she wants to win the Meet of Champions but she also has a higher goal of earning a trip to sunny San Diego and the Foot Locker national meet.  Barry has made two prior attempts & she placed 17^th last year, she her in fine early season shape.  Abby Seel, also from Mendham, earned second with 16:54.  Mendham also had the boys’ winner in the form of Justin Naselli, who was timed in 14:47.  Dylan Capwell of Hopatcong was 2^nd in 14:51 & Brendan Ungemach of Wayne Hills was 3^rd with 14:56.

 

 

                                                                Ocean County Park

    Jack Baisley of Holmdel had an easy time in the guys’ race and won with a mark of 15:53, which already matches his best from last year.  Brianna Roche of Freehold Township triumphed In the girls’ race.

                                                                               

 

 

 

                                                                                    Ohio

                                                                Boardman Spartan Invitational

        Nick Elswick of Chardon continued his run through Ohio competition scoring at Boardman with a solid time of 15:39.   The meet is on the course area runners will run at regional, so his time 7 place bode well.  Earning second & third were mark Hadley of Boardman (15:45) & Daniel Jaskowak of Grove City were only a second apart.  Hadley ran 15:45 in the large school race.  Corinne Kule of Chardon ran 18:55 to secure the big school crown but the best time of the day for girls was turned in by Alexandra Markovich of Hawken, who won the small school division in 18:42.  Fallon Doyle of St. John ran 18:47 in that race to take second.

                                                                McDonough Invitational

     This course in Forest Hills Park in Cleveland has a hill so steep, that many runners would beg off, yet the former St. Joseph Invitational has been on the schedule for over three decades.   Kevin Blank of Solon won in 16:12 and was pushed by Austin Fasciana of Avon, who ran 16:12.  Therese Haiss of Solon led the girls’ with 18:50.   Once you see the hill & then realize it has to be negotiated twice one will realize that this is some kind of a quality time.   Haiss won the Tiffin Carnival last weekend.   

                                                               

                                                                                Utah

                                                                     Autumn Classic

    The BYU Autumn Classic has long been a staple for harriers in the mountain states and this year’s race once again had a strong field.   In somewhat of a surprise Conner Mantz, only a sophomore, won the race.   His time of 15:03 saw the Sky View runner run a personal best and score a six second victory over Jordan Cross of Ogden.   Jarrell Mock of Logan finished third in 15:18.  

 

                                                                Indiana

                                                FlashRock Invitational

   Troy Reeder won his second invitational of the season and was timed in 15:19.  Jackson Bertoli came in second with 15:25.    Malyka Abramson of Avon led the girls with a course record of 17:51.  Fort Wayne Carroll won the girls’ team race with 83 points, while their guys had an even lower total of 80 to cop another victory. 

 

                                                New Prairie Invitational

     If you were offered the chance the morning of the race, that you could set a course record, most runners would happily seize the deal.  Ashley Erba (17:25) shattered the course record of Waverly Neer yet lost the race by eleven seconds to Anna Rohrer of Mishawaka.   The new record on the New Carlisle course is now 17:14.   Maddie Wood’s ran a fine 18:11 but finished well behind.  Also in the field was Bethany Neeley, the state 1600 Meter champion, plus the runner up Abby Hostetler.   Jacob Poyner was the best of the guys with 15:35.   In a move that reminds me of the days, when tiny Caldwell, Ohio successfully challenged that state’s major powers, Eastern HS of Greentown took on the bigs and took no prisoners.   The miniscule school, which could double its enrollment & still not be at 1,000, won easily.

 

                                                                Illinois

                                                Richard Spring Invitational

    Kaylee Flanagan contributed her own course record with her time of 16:20.3.  The 2011 Foot Locker national finalist erased the mark established by Kayla Beattie.   Madeline Perez of Glenbard finished second with 16:28.   

 

                                                                Pennsylvania

                                                    Briarwood Invitational

     Brendan Shearn & Tony Russell battled down the homestretch with Shearn getting the nod in 15:41.  Russ Wilson placed third with sixteen flat.  Kara Steinke had no trouble in securing the girls’ title with her time of 18:49 crossing the line almost a minute in front of her challengers.

 

                                                                North Carolina

Adidas Cross Country Challenge

      Eliza Dekker scored on the Cary course with her 17:44 clocking.  Darby Middlebrook of Watauga ran 18:02 to finish second ahead of Stephanie Aldrich of West Chester, who ran 18:10.  Mary Grace Doggett of Cardinal Gibbons (18:14) & Brooke Gordon (18:24) of Roberson placed 4^th & 5^th respectively.   There was little separating Colin Goodwin of Cary Academy & Bakri Abushouk of Cary HS, as both were credited with versions of 15:13. Ben Huffman of providence Day (15:21), Trevor Sleight of Carolina Day (15:27) & Wyatt Maxey of Providence took the next three places.

 

                                                                                Virginia

                                                                Woodberry Forest Invitational

      Nathan Hall won the boys’ race with 16;:36, as Ian McLeod finished second in 16:41.  Allie Klimkiewicz was the only girl under twenty minutes with her time of 19:14.

 

 

                                                                William & Mary Invitational

   They ran at Thomas Jefferson’s alma mater with Caroline Alcorta of West Springfield winning in 18:20 & Katie Fortner of Cave Spring second with 18:37.  Grayson Reid of Deep Run headed the guys with 15:59.  Andrew Geiser of Forest park (16:06) & Kurtis Steck of Lafayette (16:12) placed 2^nd & 3^rd.   Bradley Heuer of Herndon & Ian McDonald of Albert Einstein both were credited with 16:17 but Heuer was awarded fourth.

 

                               

                                                                                Wisconsin

                                                                           Angel Invite

    Carl Hirsch ran 15:22 to top Kevin Ryan’s 15:39, while Elizabeth Flatley led the gals with 14:32.

 

 

                                                                Big Eight Conference at Yahara Hills

        Chandler Diffee showed that he has recovered from problems with his victory over Tommy Meister of Janesville.  The winning time of the La Follette runner was 16:01.  Meister was timed in 16:05.  Madison West runners Olivia Pratt & Elena Barham took the first two places to lead their team to the title.

 

                                                                Green Bay City Meet

      Amanda Torres (16:12) defeated Nick Freitag by five seconds & Jill Engelbert led the gals (15:15)

 

 

                                                                                Minnesota

                                                                        Apple Jack Invitational

     Maria Hauger of Shakopee impressed with her time of 13:37 for 4K.   It was her third invitational victory of the season.   Danielle Anderson of Eagan ran 14:04 for 2^nd & Taylor Perkins of Lakeville North was 3^rd with 14:24.  Raissa Hansen of Eagan (14:43), Shannon Spalding (14:44) & Kaytlyn Larson (14:47) secured the next three places.

 

                                                                                Maine

                                                                   Kevin Keogh Invitational

    Kendall Cast of Metea Valley won the three mile race with a mark of 17:52 with Amanda Thate of Downers Grove 2^nd in 18:02.   The girls of Downers Grove took seven of the top twelve places including 2 through four.   Matt Stern of Naperville Central led the guys with 15:50 & his team mate Ethan Brodeur was second in 15:59.

                                                                          Missouri

                                                                Belleville West Invitational

                This mid-week event in St. Louis saw Greg Rogers of Granite City score with a time of 16:09.

 

 

                                                                Edwardsville Invitational

   The race is held on the campus of Southern Illinois University and contested at 3.1 miles.  Sam Welbourne of Jerseyville won with a time of 15:54 to defeat Kirk Smith of Burroughs, who ran 16:00.2.   The girls’ title was claimed by Sophia Racette, who had placed fourth at the Forest Park Invitational in St. Louis the previous week.   Nirinx Hall, led by Racette, easily topped the girls’ field.

 

                                                                   Arizona – Cibola Invitational

         Bernie Montoya once again ran away from the field with his time of 15:32. His race on the 15^th is further evidence that he is the premier runner in the Southwest.    Luis Rodriguez of was a distant second in 16:59, while Tony Mayorga (17:09) & Victor martin (17:10) garnered the next two places.   Monica Huston led the girls with 18:49 and, like Montoya, was unchallengened.