Runners and parents,
For the first time I can remember, the weather was surprisingly cool at the start of the Glen Oak Invitational. The rolling course was lush, green, and manicured like a fairway to open the Cat's season.
The team was treated to a surprise visit from the Baseball squad (and parents) including: Andrew Mulhern, "Sudden" Sam LaGuardia , AJ and Ponch Gaich, and Dom Caserio. After receiving some basic cross country instructions, the ball players were sent out to the course to cheer on the team. We did hear a few, "hey batter, batter, swing batter!", "get one!" , "runners on the corners!". But after learning the appropriate cheers, the players quickly got the hang of the race by sprinting from the start to the 1 mile and 2 mile marks and then back to the finish line to rally the harriers. Their support was much appreciated!! Coach Gaynor would have been proud of his boys! We owe the baseball team a visit to one of their games in the spring!!
The varsity race allowed us to run three teams: blue, gold, and white in the field. Nearly 200 runners blasted from the start at 9:30. Nick Saul and Andrew Biehl led the 'Cats through the mile with the leaders. By the 2 mile, the race was down to three contending teams: Hudson, Ignatius and Massillon Jackson. Coming into the stadium, Nick Saul surged to take 3rd place in 16:16 (pr). Andrew Biehl 16:46, Steve Zucca 16:59, Nathan Soria 17:06 and Logan Kijewski scored for the blue team, taking second place to Hudson ( the no 1 team in the state) 65 to 76.
Scoring for the 9th place gold team were: Connor McAndrew 17:20, Alex Paliga 18:01, Sean Becker 18:08, Tom Rochester 18:30 and Will Leahy 18:35. The white team (10th) was lead by Nick Mulhern 17:47, Peter Fitzpatrick 17:55, Aiden Monroe 18:02 Luke Chesney 18:26 and Charlie Rooney 18:33.
340 runners toed the line for the JV/Open race. Sean Uhran led the 'Cats to a 4th place finish in 18:40, followed by Tom Kilbane, 18:48, Robbie Klanac 18:59, Pat Sullivan 19:11 and Dan Wolke 19:25. Go to baumspage.com for complete results.
Race Photos thanks to Dave Wilson
Glen Oak:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/onvgfqdf9wl8838/AADQVFdTehbb5Z2IQkY1QsXqa?dl=0
Penitentiary Glen:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7o3rn0hbconcu7o/AAD7jod6zWEiaCwIkKEvnK2ma?dl=0
This week's schedule:
Monday: Mastick 3:30 - 5:30
Tuesday: Edgewater 3:30 - 5:15
Wednesday: Mastick 3:30 - 5:30
Thursday: Cedar Pt picnic area 3:30 - 5:30 (corner of Cedar Pt and Valley Parkway in the RR metroparks)
Friday: Mass of the Holy Spirit Day, practice on the track immediately following the rally.
Saturday: Mentor Classic @ Garfield Park north side of rt 20 east of great lakes mall (7967 Mentor Ave, Mentor, OH 44060). Bus leaves SIHS at 7:45am
Varsity @ 9:35 , JV/Open @ 10:50
Go Cats!
Doc