Cross country: Multiple first for local runners at JB Firestone Invitational

SULLIVAN TWP. — It was a day of firsts for several local athletes at Saturday's 30th annual JB Firestone Invitational at Black River High School. Wellington senior Lauren Vannatter captured her first high school invite win, as she clocked 21:05.04 to outdistance Elyria senior Tori Bell (21:24.38) in a field of 78 runners. Lake Ridge senior Christian Gorny became the first Royals runner to win the Firestone meet with a time of 16:12.76 to beat out Black River junior Connor Rhein (16:36.24) in a field of 85 runners. The Elyria High boys took home the team title for the first time since 2013. The Pioneers edged Black River 50-55 in a field of eight teams. The Pioneers were only fourth a year ago and 11th in 2023. The Pirates were third last year after winning three straight from 2021-23. Vannatter took over the girls race early, pulling away from Bell and Hillsdale junior Kloe Smith (21:31.74). Vannatter placed fourth at the 2024 Firestone in 22:17.87. "My goal was to break 21 flat. I guess I'll take it because I got first," said Vannatter. "I made my first move about a half-mile in. I still felt people on my shoulder leading up to the mile. I prepared myself for the sun and the middle mile because that's the worst part, the dead sun. The first time I competed in this race freshman year, I didn't know (the last hill about 200 meters from the finish) was there. This time, I saved energy for it and was prepared. "I've been working hard. Coach has been working with me. I'm very happy about (the win). I'm just trying to push for a nice spot at conference (LCL meet, Oct. 11). I know that there are going to be girls right behind me. I'm trying to prepare myself for that race, because the girls in that race are very strong." Gorny and Rhein battled to about the halfway point before Gorny pulled away. It was course PRs for both, as well as for Open Door junior Trevor Taylor, who placed fifth (17:21.42). Gorny (17:01.10), Rhein (17:21.0) and Taylor (18:01.91) were second, fifth and eighth, respectively, at the 2024 Firestone. All three were 2024 Division III state qualifiers. "It feels amazing," said Gorny, who chalked up his second career win. "Walking into it, I knew it was going to be us three in the front and I knew we were going to have a little bit of a gap. I know the way Connor runs. He goes out very fast. The second and third miles aren't exactly his strong suit. That happened last year. "You only have one race. He was starting to struggle a little bit and I wasn't going to make the same mistake that I made earlier in the season at the Avon Lake Earlybird. The second I made my move I was confident with my decision. I knew no matter what I could not let him get back out in front. I knew the second I overtook him I knew, 'now it's mental.' I ran terrified the last stretch. I thought he was right on my tail. When I stopped hearing anyone cheer for him coming into this last stretch, I knew I was good." "I would grade it a C-level performance," said Rhein. "It's below what my expectations were. I know I'm a lot more fit than that based off of my workouts. I know this course. It's not hard. Just coming after the two-mile, my legs were just dead. It's a hilly course. I didn't have the strength to stay with him. I felt like I was sprinting. It's not a fast course, but it's not complicated. You want to beat these kids. Every workout I do I'm getting fitter. I had to take a short break for two days after the Painesville HOKA meet on Aug. 23, where I fell hard on my right knee." "It was a good race," said Taylor. "I just came off Boardman (Sept. 13), where I didn't do very well. This was a little bit of redemption. I like to see where I'm kind of set up for the next couple of races and even going into districts, just seeing where I'm at. I've had a little bit of a hip problem, but today it was feeling a lot better." Sophomore Kaleb Freeman (third, 17:04.79) and senior Robert Krasienko (sixth, 17:38.66) led the Elyria boys. Sophomore Tyler Freeman (12th, 18:32.56), freshman Seth McFarland (13th, 18:33.71) and junior Gage Hopkins (17th, 18:50.22) rounded out the top five. "I really liked my time, especially for running this course for the first time," said Kaleb Freeman. "I was told it was hilly but I was thinking that it wasn't going to be this hilly. I really wanted to get a PR, but this course is not it. My PR is 16:45 and I was trying to get under that. I thought I might be able to stick with the Black River and Lake Ridge runners (Rhein and Gorny). I then thought about sticking with the Open Door runner (Taylor). I really pushed myself and eventually took him over." It was the second win of the season for Elyria and its fourth finish in the top three this year. The Pioneers won the Bucyrus Elk invite on Aug. 30. "I had some guys that we really on today," said Elyria boys coach Jerry Chizmar. "We had a couple guys that were off a little bit but they all work together as a team. I'm very proud of Gage. He had a little bit of a cramp at the two-mile (mark) and fought through it. Our No. 4 and 5 runners (Tyler Freeman and McFarland) saw it and instead of panicking they said, 'we've got to go.' They moved up and really helped us out big time." Although it didn't repeat its win from a year ago, Elyria finished second behind Cleveland St. Joseph Academy, 54-64, in a seven-team girls field. Bell's performance was a 35-second improvement from her third-place finish at the 2024 Firestone (22:11.37). "I think that our team raced very well," she said. "The hills went very well. We were able to pace well, too. I just kept focused on the race and ran strong all the way to the finish. Our training is making a big difference. We're sticking to the plan." Contact Paul Heyse at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. Boys1, Elyria, 50; 2. Black River, 55; 3. Lake Ridge Academy, 84; 4. Firelands, 98; 5. Open Door Christian, 106; 6. Wellington, 151; 7. Brookside, 171; 8. Benedictine, 204. Columbia, Hillsdale, Christian Community School and Clearview fielded incomplete teams. Top 51, Christian Gorny (Lake Ridge), 16:12.76; 2. Connor Rhein (Black River), 16:36.24; 3. Kaleb Freeman (Elyria), 17:04.79; 4. Dane Vanderpool (Firelands), 17:14.25; 5. Trevor Taylor (Open Door), 17:21.42Other top local runners: 6. Robert Krasienko (Elyria), 17:38.66; 7. Lars Wehrli (Lake Ridge), 17:39.95; 8. Noah Orgel (Black River), 17:46.44; 9. Carter Woods (Firelands), 17:59.41; 10. Kyle Vonderau (Black River), 18:04.36; 11. Tripp Taylor (Open Door), 18:30.65; 12. Tyler Freeman (Elyria), 18:32.56; 13. Seth McFarland (Elyria), 18:33.71; 15. Nicholas Sword (Wellington), 18:43.14; 16. Nick Danczak (Open Door), 18:48.90; 17. Gage Hopkins (Elyria), 18:50.22; 18. Ray Brakefield (Black River), 18:56.32; 19. Kolby Manges (Black River), 18:57.34; 20. Lucas Olive (Black River), 19:00.43; 21. Archer Combs (Black River), 19:05.23; 22. Zohair Khan (Lake Ridge), 19:09.94; 23. Mason Lascola (Brookside), 19:18.85; 24. Jaxson Rodriguez (Wellington), 19:20.45; 25. Aaron Powers (Firelands), 19:30.17. Out of 85 runners. Girls 1, Cleveland St. Joseph Academy, 54; 2. Elyria, 64; 3. Open Door Christian, 89; 4. Firelands, 92; 5. Black River, 122; Wellington, 126; 7. Lake Ridge Academy. 127. Clearview, Rittman, Brookside, Christian Community School and Hillsdale fielded incomplete teams. Top 51, Lauren Vannatter (Wellington), 21:05.04; 2. Tori Bell (Elyria), 21:24.38; 3. Kloe Smith (Hillsdale), 21:31.74; 4. Dilynn Copley (Firelands), 21:41.29; 5. Anna Heuberger (St. Joseph), 21:49.99Other top local finishers: 6. Claire Hepner (Open Door), 22:11.79; 7. Sophie Fada (Elyria), 22:20.33; 10. Erin Crouse (Elyria), 22:24.64; 11. Natalie Smith (Firelands), 22:25.99; 12. Jade Mitchell (Black River), 22:44.33; 13. Madison Moran (Elyria), 22:50.41; 14. Alayna Boone (Open Door), 23:10.29; 15. Scarlett Olive (Black River), 23:10.95; 16. Emma Calkins (Lake Ridge), 23:15.11; 18. Allison Powers (Open Door), 23:17.86; 19. Lily Shmois (Lake Ridge), 23:22.24; 22. Brianna Couture (Open Door), 23:40.69; 24. Diem Vanderpool (Firelands), 24:03.39. Out of 87 runners.