The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
AVON GIRLS, RIVER BOYS GET TITLES
Westlake’s Francesconi takes first place in Division I at districts
At the cross country district meets at Lorain County Community College on Oct. 21, there was a ton of pressure to try to advance to the regional meets, and several athletes and teams did just that.
Girls
The Avon girls took home a Division I district championship after totaling 63 points, beating out runner-up Amherst (75) and Westlake (76). The Eagles ran an average time of 20:42.96, and were led by junior Jules Frombach placing second with a 20:05.20 and senior Claudia Hermann taking third (20:08.10).
Frombach, who was named Lorain County Runner of the Year, also won the SWC Preview meet at the beginning of the year on the same course.
“This week we really talked about packing it up as a team,”
Frombach said. “Once I realized me and Claudia could stay together, it was really cool. We just help motivate each other.”
Avon also got a boost from Sydnie Firment taking 15th (20:50.29), and the trio of Meadow Smith (21:15.01), Abby King (21:16.20) and Shanna Koehler (21:17.13) finished 21-23.
Frombach advances to the regionals for the third consecutive year, but emphasized the team success even more.
“It gives us a lot of hope for regionals,” Frombach said. “It was kind of rough at conference. We wanted to do better. Ultimately our goal was just to have fun because our problem at conference was we focused too much on which person we had to keep pace with. But this week we took a different approach. I think through all my three years, this is going to be the greatest chance we have of advancing to states as a team. We have to keep listening to our coaches and I think we can do something special.”
Westlake junior Erica Francesconi continued her reign of dominance, claiming the individual title clocking in at 19:35.60 to help Westlake advance to the D-I regionals for the first time in two decades.
It was a goal the Demons talked about achieving all year.
“We haven’t gotten there in like 20 years, so this is the point of our whole entire season,” Francesconi said. “I’m happy and the hard work is paying off.
“And I remember it was this very moment my brother dropped out of the race last year. I was thinking about him the whole entire race and I had to do it for him. He’s a big influence in my life.”
Amherst was led by senior Alicia DelValle’s fourth place (20:12.72) and the Comets earned their 28th regional appearance in 29 years.
On the Division II girls side, no team qualified for the regionals, but Bay freshman Olivia Bird and senior Aubrey Crabb advanced individually. Bird was 15th (20:58.36) and Crabb 19th (21:12.43).
“I felt good,” Bird said, who was one of only two freshmen to advance. “I went out a little too fast, but I kept at it. It’s really exciting and it means a lot to me.”
Crabb said: “It was weird because the times were slower than I expected them to be. I was very nervous and it could have been my last race. I tried to stick with Olivia as much as I could. At Boardman next week, I just hope to do as well as I can. It’s a slow course but I’m happy qualifying for the first time.”
Boys
The No. 1 state-ranked Rocky River Pirates claimed a Division-II district title, beating out Woodridge, 41-58, and ran an average time of 16:48.02. Pirates senior Eddie Zuercher won the individual title with a 16:08.96, and senior Riley Robinette took fourth (16:33.95). Junior Jack McDonough was sixth (16:50.31) and senior Joseph Nanni took eighth (16:54.98).
“This was the first race I was able to push through a mental barrier,” Zuercher said. “I think it helped taking a lead before the 800 to go mark. I just took it and held on. It means a lot because I’m coming off a win last week as well, so I’m just trying to keep the streak going.
“We’re looking good as a team and we have a lot of seniors.”
Bay qualified to regionals. taking third (75) and was led by senior Sam Coe’s 11th place (17:03.49). Fairview was fourth overall (141) and senior Connor Kilbane qualified at ninth (16:58.98).
“After watching the girls race, I just wanted to sit back and conserve my energy,” Kilbane said. “I’ve also been sick this whole week and my breathing got kind of heavy around the two-mile mark. This is big knowing the hard district that we have and it’s the hardest district in D-II. I’m basically just looking forward to next week and getting a top 15 finish. I’m probably going to attack conservatively next week as well.”
In Division I, Avon Lake took second (81) and Avon was fourth (96). Amherst missed the regional cut, placing fifth (130), but junior Josh Hill finished as a runner-up (16:03.39) behind Strongsville’s Brian Wyler (15:59.75).
Hill was disappointed, but also understands he has two more weeks of putting forth his best race.
“I let him (Wyler) go too early with 800 to go,” Hill said. “I just didn’t have it at the end. My legs were dead today. I just want to congratulate Bryan Wyler. He had a great race.”
Senior Jack Reed led the Eagles, placing fourth (16:29.22), and Shoremen senior Eric Alu was eighth (16:58.30), qualifying for the second time in his career.
“I really focused on attacking the turns,” Alu said. “Everyone was super hyped to race and I think everyone else on the team did great. It was a great day.”