The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Hawken, Gilmour, US lead area runners
In the regional cross country meet, Hawken’s Ella Gilson and the Gilmour girls team won championships. On the boys side, Justin Iler paced University to a state meet berth.
BOARDMAN >> Ella Gilson added to her already impressive sophomore year Oct. 27 in Boardman.
Gilson won the Division II girls regional race in 18 minutes, 55 seconds. She became the Hawks’ first D-II regional champion and the Hawks second in any division after Ally Markovich won the D-III title in 2012.
Typical conditions for Boardman High School’s course meant runners needed to battle through a soft, muddy course with unsure footing. Rain fell throughout the morning and afternoon amid temperatures in the 40s.
“I think it was a good time for what we had, with the mud and everything,” Gilson said. “I just tried to keep it consistent, tried to take my back half better than usual because I try to not take out my first mile as fast as I usually do. I tried to make sure I felt good the second half.”
Gilson owns the state’s top D-II time headed to Hebron. She broke Markovich’s school record at Centerville on Sept. 21 in 17 minutes, 33 seconds.
Juliana Metz (19:41) placed seventh and Julia Newman (20:21) finished 15th behind Gilson. Lena Sylvan (21:27) was 50th and Adele Metres (22:27) rounded out the pack in 114th. The Hawks placed third with 154 points.
“I’m so excited for states,” Gilson said. “My goal is to win, I hope that I can do that next weekend. I’m going to use the competition I get next weekend to my advantage, hopefully, and the other girls are going to be amazing too. I’m just excited to be with everybody and to be at states is a great feeling.”
Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary won the girls D-II team title with 84 points.
Beaumont finished second with 106 points. Sophomore Addison Ciecierski (19:34) followed her district title at Lorain Community College with a third-place finish at the front of the Blue Streaks’ pack. Mia Mlynek (19:38) placed fourth, Ashley Rulison (20:28) was 19th, Carly Perusek (20:31) 20th and Claire Wolf (22:01) 84th.
Ciecierski and Mlynek qualified for the state meet individually as freshmen last year. They didn’t expect to place second at Boardman but were pleased by the result.
“Definitely an improvement from last year,” Mlynek said. “We’re right along the path we hoped so I’m proud of us.”
Chagrin Falls, missing No. 1 runner Catherine Coffey to an illness, mustered a sixth-place effort to qualify for the state meet. Junior Hannah Clark led the Tigers (20:33) in 24th, freshmen Wren Opperman (21:10) and Rose Hoelzel (21:14) placed 38th and 41st, respectively, senior Kat Lechman (21:16) finished 45th and junior Claire Lordan (22:26) rounded out the scoring five in 108th.
Chagrin Falls edged seventh-place Akron Hoban by three points, 208-211. The Tigers are fixtures in Hebron, but their 2018 state qualification followed a unique tack.
“This was more uncertain,” Clark said. “I think, honestly, that makes it that much more exciting now, figuring out that we qualified. I trusted in my team and we did what we were supposed to do.”
Senior Katie Engle (20:25) placed fourth to lead Gilmour to a D-III regional girls championship. The Lancers’ 62 points put them comfortable ahead of runner-up McDonald. Badger’s Miranda Stanhope won the race in
Sophomore Caitrina Barton (20:58) placed 13th, senior Alannah Barton (21:03) was 14th, freshman Mary Lombardo (21:37) finished 25th and sophomore Sophia Garofalo (21:51) rounded out the pack in 30th. Engle and Alannah Barton will make their fourth trip to Hebron in four seasons.
“We’re very happy with that,” Engle said. “We just want to keep the legacy going and keep bringing as many people to states as people. It’s a great experience and we just want to make sure everyone has a chance to experience it.”
Chardon sophomores Andi Mann (20:13) and Bri Nieset (20:14) qualified for the D-I state meet in 23rd and 24th, respectively, at Boardman. The Hilltoppers placed ninth with 245 points, 18 behind seventhplace Louisville.
Medina won the girls team title with 103 points and Brunswick’s Emily Bardwell (18:50) placed first.
Kenston sophomore Ellie Pleune qualified for the state meet for the second time in two years. The D-I girls’ race was the sixth of the day at Boardman, which worsened already-adverse conditions.
“It was not a good course at all, in my opinion,” Pleune said. “Not my favorite, to say the least.”