The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Avon boys, girls, rule at SWC Preview meet
Westlake’s Francesconi, Olmsted Falls’ Backus take individual race honors
The Southwestern Conference Preview meet is always a way to gauge where teams stand early in the season.
The Southwestern Conference Preview meet is always a way to gauge where teams stand early in the season and Avon must feel pretty good about itself.
Both the girls and boys won team titles Aug. 25 at Lorain County Community College, with the girls (57) winning on a tiebreaker with Amherst (57) based on the Eagles’ sixth runner Abby Sidloski (22:19.5) edging Amherst’s sixth runner Kayla Snowden (22:39.8).
The boys edged Amherst, 62-63, capping off a sweep.
Avon senior Jules Frombach placed second (20:13.1) behind Westlake champion Erica Francesconi (19:48.9), and teammate Meadow Smith placed fourth (20:58.3).
Frombach was neck-andneck with Francesconi a mile in until Francesconi pulled away, but was pleased with the team title.
“I think we really didn’t know what was going to happen,” Frombach said. “Both the girls and boys lost a lot of seniors, but it’s really good to know that people keep stepping up and we’ll keep doing cool stuff. It’s really exciting because hopefully we can build off this and keep coming together as a team and get ready for conference and districts at the end when it really counts the most.”
On the boys side, Jett Wieber placed second (17:33.4) for Avon behind Olmsted Falls’ Joe Backus (17:23.6). Teammate Luke Gardner placed fourth (17:48.8).
Wieber gained second place after two miles.
“I was impressed with my time but I was more impressed with my place,” Wieber said. “We’ve got a real solid team, we’re really consistent and we got a good pack. We’re trying to do our best to qualify for state.”
Francesconi, a senior, qualified for the regional meet last year before falling and getting a concussion. She did not train until recently and looked as smooth as ever before.
“I separated from Jules after the hill and that’s when I took off,” she said. “I’ve been out since regionals and I haven’t really ran a race since then. My first goal was to get out and not fall down, and after the hill, I took off from there and felt confident.”
Backus claimed his first SWC Preview title, and used the race to test where he is physically. He attributes his win to a better training regimen over the summer. His PR is a 16:59.
“I put in a lot of miles,” Backus, who ran 4050 miles a week in July, said. “I’m trying to get my school record this year which is a 16:10 and go to states. This win boosts my confidence and it also lets me know I have to work to get my time down. Our team is looking pretty good despite losing a couple guys, but we’re looking to make a big push.”
Amherst senior Josh Hill, who won the race last year and is a heavy favorite in the SWC, did not compete as he’s nursing patellar tendinitis on his left leg. He hasn’t run since Aug. 1 and plans to start on Monday with hopes to compete at the Tiffin Carnival on Sept. 8.
“Once I’m able to run again, my cardio is already up and I just need to get into the groove and I’ll be in good shape within a week or two,” Hill said. “I’m going to jump right back into it.”