The Aurora Greenmen girls’ track & field team began their season of redemption by winning their first invitational of the season, taking first place at Crestwood’s annual Don Faix Invitational with a score of 127.0 points last Saturday at Jack Lambert Stadium in Mantua.
“It was a step in the right direction,” said Coach Greg Cicero. “I think we had high confidence going in that we would perform well, and things started to fall in line once the meet progressed.”
Aurora was fueled by some dominant performances in the distance events, with runners placing in the top four in each of the individual distance events and winning all three.
“We are deeper in the distance events,” noted the fourth-year coach. “We have a lot of girls that we can rotate out of events and score high, and it gives us an added benefit of when to rest people and when to do it. It gives us a lot more options than we have had in the past.”
Freshman Claire Jenkins excelled in her first varsity invitational, winning the 800-meter run with a time of 2:22.60, followed by freshman Audrey Miller who finished in second place at 2:27.85. Jenkins also captured first place in the 1600-meter run by clocking 5:13.34 with Miller taking second place with a time of 5:14.15.
“Claire is one of the most determined athletes that I have seen in a long time, and she just bears down and runs her race. She does not get flustered by anyone else in the race and is completely focused during the race,” Cicero said.
Freshman Evelyn Jenkins snagged first place in the 3200-meter run with a time of 11:39.80, followed by senior Brooke Palian who placed fourth by clocking 12:51.43.
Senior Isabella Cicero anchored the Greenmen in the individual sprints, taking second place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.98 seconds, earning third place in the 200-meter dash by clocking 26.35 seconds, and winning the 400 meter dash at 57.96 seconds. Senior Isabelle Leindecker who netted eighth place in the 200 meter dash with a time of 27.38 seconds, placed fourth in the 400 meter dash with a time of 1:00.66.
Freshman Mia Paech took seventh place in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 18.36 seconds.
Freshman Lela Bueski snagged fourth place in the 300-meter hurdles by clocking 54.47 seconds, followed by freshman McKenzie Kilroy who took fifth place with a time of 54.62 seconds.
The team of senior Brooke Pierce, junior Madaline Williams, sophomores Khloe Hayward and Sydney Langham placed fourth in the 4×100 relay at 53.74 seconds.
Senior Olivia Leon teamed up with Langham, Pierce and Leindecker to finish as the runners-up in the 4×200 relay with a time of 1:51.26.
The quartet of Leon, Isabella, Leindecker and freshman Addie Mueller won the 4×400 relay at 4:14.72.
Evelyn joined forces with senior Abigail Rogonjic, freshmen Haley Koc and Addeline Occhionero to take second place in the 4×800 relay with a time of 10:24.99.
Freshman Lila Yurman captured seventh place in the shot put with 28 feet, 11 inches.
Junior Marcia Hamilton came in seventh place in the discus throw, hurling 91 feet, 8 inches.
Following a home duel against Suburban League American Conference rival Tallmadge on Tuesday and the Greenmen’s annual John Kudley Invitational on Thursday, Aurora will host SLAC and Portage County foe Kent Roosevelt at Veterans Stadium on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
On the boys’ side, the Streetsboro Rockets were paced by strong performances in the individual sprints, sprint relays and hurdles to finish in second place with a score of 104 points.
“It was a great day for us,” said Coach Robb Kidd. “This was our second competition of the year as the first one we had last Wednesday was just a double dual so getting a chance to go against some top-level competition in every event was something we were looking forward to.”
Senior Ethan Laryea was dominant in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes, winning each event with a time of 11.07 seconds and 22.58 seconds, respectively, followed by sophomore Noah Hodge taking second place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.31 seconds and senior Jayron Chester flanking Laryea in the 200-meter dash, placing fourth at 23.28 seconds.
Senior Braden Hodge clinched second place in the 400-meter dash, clocking 52.88 seconds.
Junior Hayden Rudd fueled the Rockets in the hurdles, taking second place in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.04 seconds, breaking the school record set in 1983, and placed third in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 41.40 seconds.
According to the seven-year coach, Rudd eclipsing the school record in the 110-meter hurdles is a sign of things to come as the junior is primed for a breakout season.
“Last year he battled some injuries, and we knew how good he was from his freshman year,” he added. “To have him come back without the ability to run a full season last year, he is looking strong.
Junior Ares Miller took fifth place in the 3200-meter run, clocking 11:05.54.
Sophomore Isiah Henderson teamed up with Chester, Laryea and Noah to win the 4×100 relay with a time of 43.81 seconds.
The quarter of junior Jaiden Kendrick, Chester, Braden and Laryea wrapped up second place in the 4×200 relay with a time of 1:31.26.
Senior Chris Daniels joined Kendrick, Chester and Braden in taking fourth place in the 4×400 relay with a time of 3:42.66.
The team of senior Jaden Hushion, freshmen Preston Krzeminski, Ryan Haber, and Daniels placed sixth in the 4×800 relay by clocking 9:00.02.
Senior Brayen Pocek earned sixth place in the shot put with 41 feet, 1 inch, followed by senior Aiden Sowa who took eighth place by throwing a distance of 40 feet, 5 inches.
Senior Cooper Richmond secured fifth place in the discus throw, hurling 137 feet, 1 inch.
Sophomore Jacob Anderson placed fourth in the high jump, clearing the bar at 5 feet, 10 inches.
Senior Ryan Roscoe took fourth place in the long jump with 20 feet, 1 inch, followed by senior Jordan McCarty, who earned eighth place by jumping 18 feet, 11 inches.
Following a double dual against Metro Athletic Conference rivals Field and Norton on Tuesday in Brimfield and the John Kudley Invitational at Aurora High School on Thursday, the Rockets will face league foes Akron Coventry and Woodridge in a double dual on April 21 in Peninsula at 4:30 p.m.
