Athletics
Athletics News
Cross Country
The cross country teams traveled to the Boardman Spartan Invitational this past Saturday to participate in one of the largest meets in the state, with participants from northeast Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
The boys took to the course first in a race that featured 48 teams and 372 individuals. Expectations were high for the Lancers, though they faced the defending state champion - East Canton - and the defending state runners-up - McDonald High School, among many other top programs. The Lancer pack attack did not disappoint as Gilmour won the team title. Tim Diemer '19 spearheaded the finish in eighth place overall with Tyler Clark '19 right behind in ninth. Connor Gerspacher '19 (pictured) put the Lancers into the lead, finishing 11th, decisively ahead of McDonald's third runner and well ahead of East Canton's second-best runner. Cole Durdella '20 kept the lead with a strong 19th-place finish, then victory was sealed by Bryson Simpson '20, whose 30th-place finish was 12 spots ahead of McDonald's fifth finisher. Garret Tomasek '20 took 148th and Anthony Gillespie '20 202nd to complete the scoring for GA.
Next, the girls took to the course to make their mark. Every Lancer competing that day stepped up. The girls also faced a field of 48 teams and more than 300 runners and came away with a close second-place finish, edged by only five points by West Virginia powerhouse Williamstown 102-107. The veteran leadership of captain Katie Engle '19, who surged to fourth place individually, and captain Alannah Barton '19, who hung strong throughout the hot conditions to grab 13th place, was crucial. Mary Lombardo '22 continued her stellar freshman campaign with a 20th-place finish. The billing as top Ohio team was confirmed when captain Jorja Hlifka '20 finished strongly over the last 800 meters to take 38th, and Mia Polisena '22, who also ran down multiple girls on the home stretch, finished 46th. Madeline Martino '22 (121st) and Ava Moe '22 (135th) rounded out the scoring for the Lancers.
Weekend Plans: The Lancers are off until they host the Paul Primeau Invitational on Friday, September 28. First of six races begins at 4 p.m. Please join us for the largest athletic event that is being held on campus this season.
