The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Westlake girls, Avon Lake boys capture titles
Westlake girls win first cross country conference title in 38 years
It has been 19 years since the Westlake girls cross country team claimed a conference title.
It has been 19 years since the Westlake girls cross country team claimed a conference title — and 38 years since they crowned an individual champion. But on Oct. 14 at Lorain County Community College, the Demons broke both droughts, winning the Southwestern Conference title, 43-59, over runnerup Amherst. Avon came in third (63) and Avon Lake fourth (74).
Westlake had three runners in the top five — with junior Erica Francesconi winning with a 19:34.7. Avon’s Claudia Hermann (20:01.5) and Amherst’s Alicia DelValle (20:05.4) followed.
Francesconi’s teammates, sophomore Teagan Walsh (20:14.8) and freshman Emma Jaros (20:21.1), placed fourth and fifth, respectively. Freshman Ashley Boyd ran a personal record of 20:44.4 (15th) and senior Ellie Templeton placed 18th with a personal record (20:58.5). Boyd and Templeton were projected to finish outside of the top-20, and helped tilt the title in the Demons’ favor.
Francesconi is the first Westlake girl to win a conference title since Cheryl Johanni in 1979.
“It was a team effort today, and not about an individual runner,” a humbled Francesconi said. “I didn’t even have a strategy. I just came out to run because that’s the only thing I know how to do. I knew that if I wanted to take the lead and give
my team a chance to win this SWC title, I needed to get out and at least outrun the other girls so my other girls (teammates) can take the lead.”
Milesplit projected Avon to win the title, and Westlake coach Travis Haselwerdt was in a state of shock when he found his team finished on top.
“We figured we would be in the running for second or third,” he said. “And we said next week is a big week for us because we want to get to regionals as a team. But we said, ‘Let’s just go for it today. My fourth and fifth runners went nuts today. And Erica has been amazing these last couple of races.
“But this is a big surprise. This is all about the kids.”
For Hermann, who has a personal record of 19:33, placing second is a tremendous building block moving into the district meet. Her teammate Jules Frombach placed 10th (20:37.9).
“I did pretty well and I just knew I had to stick with the Amherst and Westlake girls,” Hermann said. “And as a team, I know we wish we could have done better. I knew what I had to do and I’ve been training for this.
“As a team, we’re focusing on states. We know what we have to do.”
The Comets had three runners in the top 10, led by DelValle.
“I’m proud of my teammates of what we did today,” DelValle said.
Boys
Avon Lake captured the team SWC title for the first time since 2013, and was led by senior Eric Alu placing fifth overall (17:04.8). Teammate Jacob Nasr was eighth (17:11.6). Amherst junior Josh Hill won the individual title (16:24.2).
Avon placed second (76) and Amherst was third (78).
The Shoremen also won the SWC Preview meet on Aug. 26 and it was critical for them to follow it up in the postseason meet.
“Last year we were pretty heartbroken not winning the title after winning the preview meet,” Alu said. “But we’ve been getting better and our work on the hills and our speed has gotten better over the course of the season. This puts us in a good position and boosts our confidence.”
Hill won his first conference title. Last year, he finished third and was notably disappointed. So he wanted to come back and vindicate himself.
While other runners peak for the conference and district meets, Hill has his eyes set for the state meet. But at least he now can add a SWC championship medal with his collection of awards.
“I’m kind of sore from the workout I did this week, but I still got it done and I’m happy,” Hill said. “I wanted it pretty bad. My time didn’t really matter, I was just trying to win and see where it takes me.”
Avon senior Jack Reed finished as a runner-up (16:30.2). Reed is a threetime regional qualifier and gave Hill a relatively strong challenge, something few people can do.
“I just wanted to stick with him for as long as I could,” Reed said about Hill. “I know he’s the guy to beat at the end of the day and I know this is my senior year, so I want to put myself in a position to try to get that title. But he had a hell of a race.
“We’re coming together here at the end and I’m proud of the guys.”