ELYRIA – It might not rank among the elites in the state, but the Avon Lake boys cross country team is still one tough customer.
The Shoremen scored 120 points to finished fourth behind three state-ranked teams in a 19-team Maroon Division (Division I) field at Saturday’s 31st annual Avon Lake Earlybird Invitational at Lorain County Community College.
Defending state champ Medina barely held off No. 11-ranked St. Ignatius. The top-ranked Bees had 52 points. The Wildcats followed with 54. The same two finished 1-2 at last year’s Elyria district. No. 20 Massillon Perry was third (77).
Junior Jimmy Adams (10th, 16:59), junior Matt Link (15th, 17:05) and sophomore Mike Parsons (16th, 17:09) led the Shoremen. Sophomore Mike Ohradzansky (35th, 17:54) and junior Brent Milbaugh (44th, 18:11) rounded out the top five.
“We’re very happy with our success,” Adams said. “Everyone ran great. We finished way better than we expected. It was a great confidence-builder. The fields on the course are hard to run through. The hill is brutal, but we know how to run it and where to kick.”  
It was Avon Lake’s best finish at the meet since taking fourth in 1994. The Shoremen were fifth at the invite in 1982, 1993, 1995 and 2003. They won the meet in 1980. Last year, Avon Lake was seventh.
“The field is almost the caliber of a district final,” Avon Lake boys coach Rob Juergens said. “I’m happy. What else can I say? We’re working hard. The kids have a new attitude this year.”
Amherst senior Kyle Lowry was the top local finisher, taking eighth in 16:58. He was second last year in 16:30, but missed the entire track season due to stress fractures in his foot.
“I’m racing in my training flats for now instead of spikes until I’m cleared by my doctor,” Lowry said. “It’s tough getting used to my orthotics, but they felt better than they did for the SWC Preview. I was hoping for 17:15, so today was a pleasant surprise.”
Freshman Katy Link (fifth, 19:38) and sophomore Miranda Weed (eighth, 19:56) of Avon Lake chalked up personal-record times to lead the Shoregals to 10th place in the Maroon Division race for girls. It was the highest finish among local teams.
 “I’m very surprised,” Katy Link said. “We both thought that top 20 was a good goal, so to do this well was a great boost for both of us.”
Seven of the nine teams that finished in front of the Avon Lake girls are state-ranked. No. 1 Magnificat defeated No. 11 Medina for meet honors, 58-86.
The Avon girls and Vermilion boys teams excelled in the Gold Division (Division II) races.
The Avon girls matched its second-place finish of a year ago, taking second to defending champ Rocky River, 43-76. The Vermilion boys (102) equaled its third-place finish from last year, placing behind Rocky River (88) and Gilmour Academy (98).
Junior Erin Schneider (sixth, 21:16) led the Avon girls. Sophomore Kayla Welch (eighth, 21:46), sophomore Bailey Basen (10th, 22:01), senior Emily Michelich (24th, 22:40) and sophomore Liz Bruno (26th, 22:51) rounded out the top five.
“It was tough in the heat,” said Schneider, the 2007 Division II-III county MVP. “Every time I tightened up during the race, I just told myself to deal with it. We have such a fabulous team this year. I can’t wait for the rest of the season. I’m excited.”
“We didn’t break out from the start like we needed to,” Avon coach Tara Gruskiewicz said.
Vermilion senior Nate Rodriguez wasn’t quite satisfied despite setting his personal record on the course by 28 seconds. He was sixth in 17:20.
“My training base this summer wasn’t quite what it should been,” said Rodriguez, a 2007 state qualifier. “I had five hours of marching band practice a day during preseason. I carried around a 25-pound marching tuba, which is a workout in itself. That kind of took away from some of my conditioning time for cross country. I know I can do better.”

BOYS

MAROON
Team standings

1. Medina, 52; 2. St. Ignatius, 54; 3. Massillon Perry, 77; 4. Avon Lake, 120; 4. Massillon Jackson, 190; 5. North Royalton, 201; 8. Amherst, 212; 11. Berea, 313; 12. Elyria, 315; 13. Westlake, 366; 16. Midview, 462; 17. North Ridgeville, 516

Individual top 5

1. Donny Roys, 16:07; 2. Josh Tormasi (Perry), 16:25; 3. Dustin Thomas (North Royalton), 16:45; 4. Lucas Walters (Medina), 16:51; 5. Bill Whitmore (St. Ignatius), 16:51

GOLD

Team standings

1. Rocky River, 88; 2. Gilmour Academy, 98; 3. Vermilion, 102; 4. Independence, 113; 5. Trinity, 128; 9. Firelands, 210; 10. Avon, 232; 13. Clearview, 352; 14. Open Door, 405; 15. Black River, 411; 17. Wellington, 436; 18. Brookside, 445; 19. Columbia, 512
Individual top 5
1. Nick Gliha (Trinity), 16:59; 2. Mike Rusnaczyk (Independence), 17:08; 3. Ryan Polman (Independence), 17:12; 4. Tommy Eldridge (Rocky River), 17:15; 5. Kyle Miller (Buckeye), 17:19

Girls

MAROON
Team standings

1. Magnificat, 58; 2. Medina, 86; 3. Brunswick, 126; 4. North Royalton, 138; 5. Massillon Jackson, 149; 10. Avon Lake, 254; 11. Berea, 292; 12. Amherst, 297; 14. Elyria, 385; 15. Westlake, 393; 16. Midview, 484; 18. North Ridgeville, 520

Individual top 5

1. Hannah Neczypor (North Royalton), 18:46; 2. Madeline Chambers (Magnificat/Westlake resident), 19:11; 3. Anna Boyert (Medina), 19:24; 4. Katherine Stultz (Magnificat), 19:30; 5. Katy Link (Avon Lake), 19:38

GOLD
Team standings

1. Rocky River, 43; 2. Avon, 74; 3. Hudson Western Reserve, 97; 4. Trinity, 139; 5. Keystone, 153; 13. Black River, 335; 14. Firelands, 385; 15. Brookside, 400

Individual top 5

1. Jessica Zangmeister (Fairview), 19:27; 2. Brittney Towner (Rocky River), 20:23; 3. Ceara O’Sullivan (WRA), 20:34; 4. Paige Nagy (Rocky River), 20:56; 5. Nikki Blair (Keystone), 21:09

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