Shoremen Boys Take Second in Early Bird Invitational

The 2011 Avon Lake Early Bird Cross-Country Invitational again sported some of the top teams in the state, including defending boys state champion Louisville and last years third place finisher St. Ignatius.

While Ignatius took home the team championship on Sept. 3, held their own, actually making a statement as they took home runner-up status.

"It was definitely a measuring stick," Shoreman senior Trevor Norris, who took home fourth, said. "It was out home meet, we know we are a good team and we wanted to go out there and show we could hang with the big dogs."

Avon Lake did it with a strategy of pack running. Seniors Norris (fourth, 16:31.0), Francesco Maiorca (fifth, 16:38.0) and Connor Musial (eighth, 16:57.9) all stuck close together helping each other--and also the team--in the process.

"I thought we all ran well,," Norris said. "We have two main packs on varsity, we do everything together and it definitely helps in the middle of the race when you have your teammates running with you.

Cross country is grueling enough as 3.1 miles take a toll, but on Saturday it was brutal as conditions mirrored the lazy hazy days of mid summer with temperatures reaching the mid-90s on the Lorain County Community College course.

The girls didn't fare as well as the boys, but got a great performance from Katie Link who took home tenth place with her time of 20:09, Jessica Lambert also had a nice performance cracking the top 50 with her 37th place slot and a time of 21:50.

Both teams don't get a break next weekend either, as they head to the Tiffin Carnival, one of the top races in the state and normally an early season preview of who will be at the state meet this fall.

Boys results

Maroon Division: 1. St. Ignatius, 71; 2. Avon Lake (AL), 99; 3. Toledo St. Francis, 117; 4. St. Edward, 118; 5. Louisville, 166. Other local teams: 8. Avon (AV), 232; 14. Amherst (AM), 332; 18. Elyria (EL), 561; 19. North Ridgeville (NR), 589; 20. Midview, 641. Out of 21 teams.

Avon Lake placers : 4. Trevor Norris (AL), 16:31.0; 5. Francesco Maiorca (AL), 16:38.0; 8. Connor Musial (AL), 16:57.9; 33. Tommy Parsons (AL), 43. James Darkow (AL), 17:51.6; 47. Mike Callesen (AL), 17:57.7; 65. Leon Kinsley (AL), 18:48.4.

Girls results

Maroon Division: 1. Brunswick, 57; 2. Magnificat, 115; 3. Toledo Notre Dame, 121; 4. Bay, 127; 5. Wadsworth, 169. 11. Avon Lake, 250

Avon Lake finishers: 10. Katy Link (AL), 37.Jessica Lambert (AL)21:50.4; 50. Annie Wennerberg (AL), 22:15.3; 76. Jane Duskey (AL), 23:38.8; 77. Taylor Lowery (NR), 23:40.0; 79. Charlotte Ward (AL), 23:45.6; 85. Katey Faber (AL), 24:05.3.