With a complete effort from all of its runners, the Cazenovia boys cross country team completed its regular-season slate in second place in the OHSL Liberty American division by defeating Westhill-Bishop Ludden in last Wednesday’s race.
The Lakers traveled to Santaro Park, Westhill-Bishop Ludden’s home course. The team ran to a 24-32 finish over the Warriors on a 2.7-mile course that was dry, flat and fast. One of the only inclines on the course is at the finish into the chute.
With that win, Cazenovia earned second place in the league, trailing only state Class C no. 4-ranked Marcellus, but ahead of Westhill-Ludden in the standings, along with Chittenango, Phoenix and Solvay.
Cazenovia Junior Jimi McPherson continued to run strong as he was the overall winner with a time of 15:22. McPherson continued to display his improvement and dominance as he finished 23 seconds ahead of the rest of the field, his largest gap of the season.
Throughout the entire race there was a battle between the Lakers’ Jon Marecek and Brendan Coffey and Westhill- Ludden’s top runner, Dan Washburn.
In the end, Marecek edged Washburn for the overall second-place finish. Marecek finished with a time of 15:45 and Washburn finished in 15:47. Coffey, a senior captain, continued his excellent running as he finished fourth overall with a time of 15:53.
This race however, was won by the Lakers’ middle runners.
Westhill-Ludden runners finished fifth through seventh, with Jake Suddaby (16:18) ahead of Brendan Rewakowski (16:29) and Jack Mannion (16:35), and it appeared the Lakers’ win may be in jeopardy.
Yet through the perseverance of the Lakers’ remaining scorers, the outcome of the race was determined. Ian Marshall, in 16:36, and Nick Barna, in 16:39, each ran outstanding races, while Wells, in one of his best runs of the year, got 10th place in 16:42, sprinting to the finish to get in front of any remaining Weshtill-Ludden runner.
Each of the Lakers all ran well on the course to finish out the regular season. Zach Wendell (18:07) and Jack Gabor (18:26) were next with top-20 finishes, followed by Carson Clonan (19:16), Cormace Race (19:19), Sam Galassso (19:30), John Henry Light-Olson (19:42) and Elliot Hale (20:18)
Alex Rodriguez and Andrew Peterson both finished in 20:22 in front of Ted Williams and Chris Stevens, who each posted 20:23. Justin Ossont (21:09), Griffin Monahan (21:21), Sam Stehle (21:25), Andrew Ryan (22:36), Felix Schnittler (22:37), Daulton Sevier (22:57), Hunter Marshall (24:32), Orson Sproule (24:56), Tim Gibbons (26:49) and Hunter McCullough (27:00) followed.
Afterwards, all of the runners were generously treated to a post-race meal which was hosted by the Westhill-Bishop Ludden parents.
Next up for the Lakers is the OHSL Liberty division meet, which will be held next Wednesday at Longbranch Park in Liverpool. The Lakers will be among 12 teams competing, which includes league rivals Marcellus, Jordan-Elbridge, Hannibal, and Chittenango.
