Lake Ridge's Christian Gorny gets it done at season-opening Keystone Icebreaker

CARLISLE TWP. — Hard work paid off for Lake Ridge's Christian Gorny at Monday's 18th annual Keystone Icebreaker. The junior from Lorain finished third out of 221 runners in a personal-record time of 16:35.6. "It was just the result of a lot of work that I put in over the summer. Really, it was just determination," said Gorny, a 2023 Division II-III All-Lorain County second-team runner. Last year, Gorny finished 20th out of 219 runners in 17:59.5. As a freshman in 2022, Gorney was 38th out of 196 runners in 19:37.3. "It's a surprise 100 percent," said Gorny. "Never expected that in a million years." As a sophomore, Gorny placed 25th out of 97 runners at the Elyria Division III District in 18:30.10. He missed the regional cutoff (top 16) by 27 seconds. On Monday, Gorny kept himself in good position throughout the race, staying in the top six before moving into the top three at about 2.1 miles in the 3.1-mile (5K) event. "It was a super way for Christian to start the season," said Lake Ridge coach Patrick Smith. "He's been working his tail off. It's a testament to his work ethic this summer. His work ethic this summer has been just fabulous, just fabulous. "He established a stronger base early in the summer so by the time he got to July he was already in great shape. Then he went to the All-Ohio camp. He logged 65 miles at that camp in one week, but he was already in good enough shape to do that." Gorny had a nice finish to the track season in the spring. He finished second in the 3,200 at the Cuyahoga Heights Division III district in a time of 10:27.90. "Christian took a week off at the end of track season but then he was right back at it," said Smith. "We don't do a lot of speed work at this point of the season, but the speed work we have been doing he's been killing the mile repeats with very little rest and carrying a great pace. "I've coached him since (sixth grade). He's always been very passionate about running. He now has the body, just through maturation, that allows him to do the things he wants to do. Christian's 2.5 inches taller than last year (now 5-foot-11.5). Even that young (in the sixth grade), the drive was there. You could tell the work ethic. Now, he's got the body to complement the work ethic." The Royals were without senior Andrew Young, a 2023 Division III regional qualifier and 2024 All-Ohio (top eight) in track for the 800 meters (eighth place). Young was on a college visit at The University of Notre Dame. Other top local finishers for the boys were senior Rylan Copen (13th, 17:26.7) and junior Dane Vanderpool (14th, 17:30.2) of Firelands, Keystone's Bentley Skaggs (16th, 17:33.2) and Wellington senior Joe Fox (20th, 17:50.7). A two-time Division III state qualifier, Fox just resumed training a few weeks ago after taking most of the summer off due to injury and illness. "It was a little rough," said Fox. "Today's the first race for everyone. It was better than what I was expecting. I've just got to get back into the swing of cross country." Last year, Fox was 19th at the Icebreaker in 17:58.4 after taking 10th (17:38.4) in 2022. "The first mile I went out too hot for my conditioning," he said. "I really felt the strain the last half mile. It was a little rough. I've got a clean slate. I need to forget about last year and start new this year. Today was a starting point. I just need to move on from here." Open Door sophomore Claire Hepner (ninth, 21:31.3) and Firelands junior Audrey Smith (11th, 21:45.3) were the top local finishers in the girls varsity race in a field of 151 runners. "I'm excited to get the season kicked off," said Hepner, 2023 Division II-III Lorain County Runner of the Year and a 2023 Division III regional qualifier. "Today went well, although things got a little rough by that two-mile point. My summer training went well. My focus today was to beat the mark I had when I started last season. I hope to make it all the way (to state) this year. I really have to work on my strength." Last year, Hepner (11th, 21:07.4) and Smith (19th, 22:02.0) also were the top two Lorain County finishers. "Today went well, especially since I'm dealing with a little bit of an injury (calf muscles)," said Smith. "To come out here, do what I love and to get past that it feels great. I played it smart, like my coach said. I've been listening to him and my physical therapist. To do it with my team and to be here with my sister (freshman Natalie Smith) for the first time, it feels good." Rittman junior Luke Snyder won the boys race for the third year in a row with a time of 15:35.9. Snyder is the defending Division III state champ after taking second at state as a freshman. Rittman sophomore Annabelle Snyder, Luke's sister, took home the girls title in a time of 19:06.4. She was second last year in 19:51.80 and led Rittman to a second-place finish at the 2023 Division III state cross country meet as a freshman. Luke Snyder won the boys race by 52.9 seconds over Cloverleaf junior Caleb Neville (16:28.8). Annabelle Snyder won the girls race by 46.8 seconds over Olmsted Falls senior Kendall McCray (19:53.2). They are the children of Rittman coach Matt Snyder, who is a 1998 Elyria High graduate. Contact Paul Heyse at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. Boys 1, Bay, 50; 2. Cloverleaf, 135; 3. Fairview, 137; 4. Olmsted Falls, 149; 5. Rittman, 160; 6. Keystone, 166; 7. Buckeye, 175; 8. Firelands, 199; 9. Open Door, 248; 10. Lake Ridge, 255; 11. Midview, 274; 12. Norwalk, 336; 13. Columbia, 361; 14. Lutheran West, 397; 15. Oberlin, 412; 16. Wellington, 417; 17. Avon, 422; 18. Brookside, 434; 19. Benedictine, 455 Top 5 1, Luke Snyder (Rittman), 15:35.9; 2. Caleb Neville (Cloverleaf), 16:28.8; 3. Christian Gorney (Lake Ridge), 16:35.6; 4. Kieran Ripley (Bay), 16:46.1; 5. Gavin Forbes (Cloverleaf), 16:50.5 Other top local finishers 13. Rylan Copen (Firelands), 17:26.7; 14. Dane Vanderpool (Firelands), 17:30.2; 16. Bentley Skaggs (Keystone), 17:33.2; 20. Joe Fox (Wellington), 17:50.7; 22. Trevor Taylor (Open Door), 17:53.5; 26. Lucas Edgell (Midview), 18:02.0; 27. Jamie Yuronich (Keystone), 18:02.7; 28. Mark Sferra (Lake Ridge), 18:04.5; 30. Nolan Raack (Open Door), 18:18.5 Girls 1, Rittman, 52; 2. Olmsted Falls, 52; 3. Cloverleaf, 91; 4. Fairview, 117; 5. Buckeye, 144; 6. Norwalk, 145; 7. Avon, 164; 8. Firelands, 175; 9. Open Door, 226; 10. Lake Ridge, 268; 11. Keystone, 321; 12. Lorain, 346 Top 5 1, Annabelle Snyder (Rittman), 19:06.4; 2. Kendall McCray (Olmsted Falls), 19:53.2; 3. Aubrey Prada (Olmsted Falls), 20:08.3; 4. Adyson Fosen (Rittman), 20:08.4; 5. Ryver Ramsier (Rittman), 20:24.0 Top local finishers 9. Claire Hepner (Open Door), 21:31.3; 11. Audrey Smith (Firelands), 21:45.3; 16. Macy Collins (Columbia), 22:18.4; 17. Lauren Vannatter (Wellington), 22:22.5; 21. Courage Bielawski (Oberlin), 22:38.4; 23. Olivia Hudson (Oberlin), 22:50.5; 27. Dilynn Copley (Firelands), 22:58.0; 28. Natalie Smith (Firelands), 23:01,.6