Running in the Division I race, the Bay boys knew what they were getting into.
Facing one of the best programs in Ohio in Hudson, the Rockets held their own and then some.
Behind a victory from Michael Hanselman and top-five finishes from Connor Spellman and Kieran Ripley, they finished second with 68 points in the Maroon Division behind the Explorers’ 29 at the Avon Lake Early Bird Invitational held Aug. 31 at LCCC.
As a Division II team, Bay won’t see Hudson in the postseason. However, competing against the Explorers was a welcomed challenge early on in the season.
“It’s nice because we know how good they are, but since they’re Division I, it’s not as much pressure,” Spellman said. “That was definitely our main goal to see how close we could stick with Hudson.”
Hanselman crossed the line in 16 minutes, 18.2 seconds for the win, followed by Spellman in third at 16:33.0 and Ripley in fifth at 16:35.2. The top seven finishers were either from Bay and Hudson until the defending champion, Westlake’s Jeremy Snyder, finished in eighth.
Sacha Jones (25th) and Liam Jager (34th) rounded out the Rockets’ scoring.
Bay has a strong showing in the Boys Maroon race!
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Connor Spellman (3rd) and Kieran Ripley (5th) put up strong performances!
The Rockets placed 2nd behind D1 Hudson@MJournalSports @BayAthletics pic.twitter.com/pj2TTgCNRH
— Travis Nelson (@travisnelson40) August 31, 2024
“I really had to grind for this one,” Hanselman said. “I really dug deep and came out strong in the end. It was nice having my teammates right with me, I knew they were ready to go.”
While Bay couldn’t compete for the team title on the girls side, Erin Belveal put up a strong showing. The senior finished second in 19:49.5 behind Shaker Heights’ Grace Kaelber.
Belveal won last week at the Rockets’ home invitational with a similar conservative strategy. She was nowhere to be found toward the front at the beginning of the race, but kicked into the top three by the two-mile mark.
What a race from Bay’s Erin Belveal!
The senior finished 2nd at 19:57.7 in the Girls Maroon race!@MJournalSports @BayAthletics pic.twitter.com/nYwP5S0zMA
— Travis Nelson (@travisnelson40) August 31, 2024
There are times when strategies flame out, but it’s a great feeling when it works to perfection.
“It feels pretty good, I feel like I’ve found my confidence in running,” Belveal said. “I was able to see where I’m at against high-end competition.”
The Gold Division featured Division II and Division III teams. The boys race featured plenty of local representatives.
For the first time in his career, Lake Ridge junior Christian Gorny emerged victorious in a cross country race. He outlasted Vermilion’s Joseph Webb with a time of 17:10.4.
Lake Ridge’s Christian Gorny wins for the first time in his career in the Boys Gold race!
He finishes with a time of 17:10.4
Vermilion’s Joseph Webb takes 2nd followed by his teammate Daniel Grisel in 3rd!@MJournalSports @LakeRidgeRoyals @TheSailorNation pic.twitter.com/2SLOJGhKs7
— Travis Nelson (@travisnelson40) August 31, 2024
Gorny showed his chops last spring as a Division III track and field regional qualifier in the 3,200. He has continued progressing and it’s showing now this fall.
“It feels absolutely amazing, all my hard work has paid off,” Gorny said. “That’s my coach wanted me to do was to go up with the first place person and hold it there because I don’t like pacing. The second he started slowing down, I took the chance I had. That was it.”
Webb started fast and took the lead. He was gunning for the title, but Gorny passed him just before the two-mile mark to earn the win. The Sailors’ senior finished with a time of 17:43.7. His teammate Daniel Grisel earned third place at 18:01.09 after beating out Keystone freshman Jamie Yuronich (18:03.6).
“(Gorny) just pulled away from me, he did exactly what he needed to win,” Webb said. “It’s early in the season and I’m ready to attack. The next one’s mine, that’s always the mentality going into it.”
The Fairview boys took home the team title with 70 points. Nate Stoessner led the way with a sixth-place finish, followed by Max Edwards in eighth and Roman Ramsdell in ninth.
Fairview’s Claire Dahler finished eighth in the girls Gold Division race with a time of 23:16.9.
PHOTOS: Avon Lake Early Bird Invitational cross country, Aug. 31, 2024
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