By KARL E. PEARSON - kpearson@starbeacon.com
Staff Writer
PERRY TOWNSHIP —
It’s still very early in the season, but several area cross country runners are already beginning to make their move, if Saturday’s performance in Madison’s U Wanna Come Back Invitational at the Perry Outdoor YMCA is any indication.
Riverside’s Zack McBride, the area’s lone returning boys state meet participant, was a prime example. He ran away to the individual championship of the boys meet, covering the 3.1-mile course in 16:05 to easily defeat Mayfield’s Chris Fortuna, who finished in 16:22.
McBride’s showing led Riverside to a third-place finish in the boys team standings with 99 points. Kenston was the champion with 64 points, while defending Premier Athletic Conference champion Chardon was the runner-up with 74 points.
Lakeside finished sixth in the boys large-school division with 165 points. Madison was seventh in the 10-team field with 185 points.
In the boys small-school race, Geneva finished third of four teams with 82 points. Lake Catholic was the champion of that division with 25 points.
In the girls segment of the meet, Madison was the top area team, finishing sixth of 11 teams in the large-school division with 147 points. Mayfield was the champion with 58 points, while defending PAC champion Chardon was second with 66 points. Lakeside was 11th with 310 points.
Kirtland was the small-school girls champion with 22 points. Wickliffe was the runner-up in the two-team field with 33 points. Geneva did not have enough runners to record a team score, putting only three on the course.
Riverside’s boys put two other runners in the top 20. Mike Campbell was 15th in 17:20, while Ian Kallay was 18th in 17:25. Jacob Burr finished 29th in 17:59 and Alex Fuhrmann was 37th in 18:22 to round out the scoring for the Beavers.
Riverside coach Phil Baioni likes where his boys are at early in the season.
“I think we’re doing pretty good,” Baioni, whose boys sent him off to a fine celebration of his 10th wedding anniversary, said. “We have six freshmen who have come in this year and are running great. Mike Campbell, who we picked up from the hockey team and is in his first year of running, ran really well today.”
He is definitely pleased with the approach McBride is taking so far.
“Zack is running really strong,” Baioni said. “He has a couple good goals in mind that he wants to achieve this year.
“Last year, Zack was the top finishing sophomore in the Division I meet. It’s his goal this year to be the top finishing junior at state. If he keeps his mental attitude and physical aspect where they need to be, I think he can do it. I think he’s on track to accomplish his goals.”
Lakeside’s boys were paced by Brandon Lopez in 20th place in 17:37. Drew Dioneff was 23rd in 17:47, Marc Strong was 30th in 18:01, Tyler George finished 42nd in 18:37 and Ryan Simmons was 62nd in 19:23.
Bobby Bismark led the Madison boys with a 10th-place finish in 17:13. Mitch Farnsworth was 27th in 17:51, Clay Densmore placed 50th overall in 18:54, Jon Pollock was 57th in 19:04 and Willie Rednick was 66th in 19:26.
Gabe McLeod was the top finisher for the Geneva boys in the small-school race, finishing fourth in 17:24. Marcus Ankrom was 10th in 18:49, Michael Ellis was 23rd in 20:20, Zac Watts finished 34th in 21:48 and Joe Loftus was 37th in 22:04.
Leading the Madison girls was Erin Hord in 12th place in 20:46. Sky Robinson was 26th in 21:21, Allison Rothlisburger finished 33rd in 21:43, Jillanne Mackey was 34th in 21:43 and Cassie Kahr was 54th overall in 22:43.
First-year Madison coach Kelly Chandler is pleased with the progress the Blue Streak girls are making.
“I was very happy with the girls,” she said. “Every one of them improved their times. We finished about where I was expecting we would.
“Sky Robinson was a really pleasant surprise finishing second for us today because we’re sharing her with the soccer team and today was her first race. We’re going to be getting Taylor Cline back next week, too.”
Chandler has had her team working hard, but she doesn’t want it getting too far ahead of itself.
“The girls have been training like animals,” she said. “We’re seeing them dropping their times, but in the past I’ve notice they’ve seemed to peak too soon. I want them peaking for the district and regionals.
“I’d definitely like to see us moving up in the PAC, too. I think we’re starting to make good progress.”
Riverside’s Annie Nelson was the area’s top individual girl, finishing 11th in 20:40. Following her for the Beavers was Taylor Strauss in 27th in 21:27, Shannon Sullivan in 61st overall in 23:00, Kristen Mackey in 73rd in 23:42 and Julia Krauss in 75th in 23:45.
Chelsea Wheeler was Lakeside’s top finisher overall in 96th place in 25:02. Jennifer Schwentker was 104th in 25:37, Gabrielle Mollick was 107th in 25:55, Sarah Harris was 114th in 26:22 and Haley Wrightnour was 128th in 27:32.
Geneva’s top girls finisher was Alyssa Nieset, who was third in the small-school race in 20:59. Natalie Van Hoy was 12th in 23:19 and Emily Gruber was 16th in 24:52.
