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Doc Gallagher Report: Varsity Snags 5th, JV Earns 1st Place

By Dr. Michael Gallagher '71, 09/01/19, 12:00PM EDT

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Runners and parents,

The recap is here a day early due to the Labor Day weekend.

The 'Cats journeyed east for the 47th running of the Mentor Invitational.  (Fun Fact:  Mentor was once known as "The Rose Capital of the Nation," producing an average of 5 million plants a year up to the 70's. Today only remnants remain of hundreds of acres of the fragrant, colorful plants.)

Once again, nature was kind to the runners with near perfect racing conditions.  The varsity race was packed with several top-ranked teams.  Steve Zucca led the 'Cats into the first turn as 182 runners jockeyed for position.  The course has multiple loops and turns, forcing the runners into race car mode: Downshifting, braking, popping the clutch and then accelerating throughout the race. Steve Zucca led the field as they crossed the wobbly plank bridge up to the 2 mile mark.  With 400m to go the race was on!  Steve kicked and hung on for 7th place to finish in 16:19.  Jack Mayer followed in 16:49, with Peter Fitzpatrick, Matt Kelly, Sean Uhran, Eliott Rodstrom and Joe Maloney  scoring for the team's 5th place.

In the JV/Open race, the Wildcats led the race wire-to-wire.

Nick Mulhern took the lead at the start and never looked back.  He finished in 17:13 to lead the 'Cats to a victory over 22 teams.  Scoring for the team were: Aiden Monroe, Alex Paliga, Mike Mayer, Conor Geary, Johnny Pawlikowski and Sean Becker. The top freshman were: Caleb DelaCruz, Ben Showman and John Scally.  

Congrats to Aidan Monroe, Sean Freddy Becker, and Andrew Eicher who earned their varsity letter in the race. See Coach Stefancin's attached excel spreadsheet for all the times and PR's.  There were 28 PRs this week! In addition, 12 freshmen improved on their time from last week! Congrats to all! 

Thanks to the parents for the post race feast.  Bagels, fresh fruit and Coach Voigt's favorite, Donuts!

An additional thanks to the Rugby Team for their enthusiastic support!  You may have noticed the dozen or so forwards, backs, and flankers dressed in beach/surf regalia.

This week's schedule:

Sunday:  easy flush 25 - 45 min

Monday:  NO team practice!! Happy Labor Day!!  Run on your own.  frosh, sophs,  45 min steady run.  all others 50 min to 1 hr steady run.

Tuesday: Edgewater 3:30 - 5:00 bus

Wednesday: Mastic 3:30 - 5:30 bus

Thursday: SIHS 3 - 4:30

Friday: SIHS 3 - 4 :00 pre comp

Saturday: Walsh Invite :  Varsity 8:30 (S Becker, Chesney, Klanac, Eicher, Rooney, Ward, Kilbane, D Becker, McGuire. ) Open 9:30  Bus provided.  Departure time TBA

                  Tiffin Invite:   Varsity B  3:30  ( Maloney, Monroe, McAndrew, Paliga, M Mayer, Geary, Pawlikowski)   Varsity A 4:30  (Zucca, Mayer, Fitz, Kelly, Uhran, Mulhern, Rodstrom) 

 

Go Cats,

Doc