Cross country: Lake Ridge's Christian Gorny wins Obenour Invitational

VERMILION — Christian Gorny had pretty good vibes coming into Saturday's 47th annual Jim Obenour Memorial Cross Country Invitational. The Lake Ridge senior was coming off a big win at Black River's J.B. Firestone meet last weekend and wanted to keep that momentum rolling. Mission accomplished. Gorny, a 2024 Division II state qualifier, was the class of the varsity boys race as he clocked 16:43.72 to outdistance North Olmsted's Ethan Hill (17:02.71) and Amherst's Asa Nicely (17:09.99) in a field of 97 runners. "It felt great. Very smooth," Gorny said. "I was a little nervous because Amherst has so many good runners in the front especially. I'm very happy with the result. It's a very flat course. I like that zero elevation. I like the wooded sections. They were nice with the turns. I actually like the wooded sections better than the straightaways because then I don't have to deal with the sun. "I didn't know what I was walking into because our normal regular season meets I pretty much know everyone going into it." Lake Ridge coach Pat Smith was understandably pleased with Gorny's efforts. "He's been putting together week after week of very good training," Smith said. "The focus is some of the best I've ever had from a runner. The workouts we've been able to do this year is a whole level above what we've been able to do just because he's a year stronger. He always comes into the preseason in very good shape but he was even better this year." Two-time defending boys champ Amherst was second this time behind North Olmsted, 33-63, in a field of 12 teams. Lake Ridge (122) was third. Asa Nicely, Jackson Strawn (13th, 17:54.0), Cale Miller (14th, 17:58.41), Eli Nicely 17th, 18:02.25) and Matthew Walker (25th, 18:16.0) made up the Amherst top five. "It's a good course. I like the changes," Nicely said. "The goal is to really pack up and to run for each other. It's not really about time on this course. It's really about running with your brothers. I'm looking forward to postseason (starting Oct. 11). For me I always feel like I shine during postseason. We do these little team awards and last year I got Mr. Postseason. It's a fun little thing we do. We really try to run for each other." Amherst boys coach Rob Glatz was upbeat about his team's efforts. "It's been an interesting season with injuries and illnesses," Glatz said. "We said this is the time of year we need to start bringing it together. We're definitely headed in the right direction. We're focusing a lot on brotherhood and pushing each other in workouts and staying together. It was nice to see that pack behind Asa ready to go." Midview sophomore Molly Ockuly (fifth, 21:37.51) and Firelands junior Dilynn Copley (sixth, 21:42.69) were the top Lorain County finishers in the varsity girls race in a field of 74 runners. "I finished very strong. I kept pushing myself," Ockuly said. "The woods where there are no fans is probably the toughest part of the course for me. You kind of get lost in your mind. You just have to push yourself and finish strong. I didn't PR but I placed well, so I'm pleased. I'm just going to train myself to my hardest, push myself and make my teammates push themselves, too." It was a nice improvement over last year for both Ockuly and Copley. In 2024, Ockuly was 10th in 22:35 and Copley was 13th in 22:38 at Vermilion. "Our coach told us to make sure that we finished in front of Oberlin because the (Lorain County League) conference meet is coming up (Oct. 11)," Copley said. "That was really my goal, was to make sure that I was in front of all the Oberlin runners." It was especially tight behind Firelands (124), Midview (128) and Oberlin (134), which placed fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, in a field of 11 teams. Hearts for Jesus (36), Bay (76) and Padua (117) took the top three spots. "I attacked the first mile well," Copley said. "I got out fast, hard and got a good spot and just tried to maintain the rest of the race." Contact Paul Heyse at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. BoysTEAM STANDINGS: 1. North Olmsted, 33; 2. Amherst, 63; 3. Lake Ridge Academy, 122; 4. Oberlin, 151; 5. Elyria Catholic, 154; 6. Padua, 157; 7. North Ridgeville, 182; 8. Hearts for Jesus, 197; 9. Westlake, 217; 10. Firelands, 222; 11. Lutheran West, 256; 12. Midview, 286. INDIVIDUAL RESULTS1. Christian Gorny (Lake Ridge), 16:43.72; 2. Ethan Hill (North Olmsted), 17:02.71; 3. Asa Nicely (Amherst), 17:09.99; 4. Nicholas Michalides (North Olmsted), 17:15.74; 5. Lars Wehrli (Lake Ridge), 17:27.41; Other top local runners: 8. Carter Woods (Firelands), 17:34.65; 10. Luke Jones (Elyria Catholic), 17:35.95; 12. Jacob Reed (North Ridgeville), 17:49.05; 13. Jackson Strawn (Amherst), 17:54.0; 14. Cale Miller (Amherst), 17:58.41; 17. Eli Nicely (Amherst), 18:02.25; 18. Alexander Perales (Oberlin), 18:02.35; 20. Peter Caldwell-Kepner (Oberlin), 18:03.50; 21. Ian Pallardy (Elyria Catholic), 18:12.48; 24. Dane Vanderpool (Firelands), 18:13.05; 25. Matthew Walker (Amherst), 18:16.0; 30. John Barber (Elyria Catholic), 18:37.81; 32. Zohair Khan (Lake Ridge), 18:42.39. GirlsTEAM STANDINGS: 1. Hearts for Jesus, 36; 2. Bay, 76; 3. Padua, 117; 4. Firelands, 124; 5. Midview, 128; 6. Oberlin, 134; 7. Lake Ridge Academy, 169; 8. Elyria Catholic, 207; 9. Lutheran West, North Ridgeville, 238; 11. Vermilion, 275. INDIVIDUAL RESULTS 1. Arianna Codispoti (Padua), 20:54.43; 2. Juliett Haynes (Hearts for Jesus), 21:04.88; 3. Kirsten Mason (Hearts for Jesus), 21:10.59; 4. Olivia D'Alessandro (North Olmsted), 21:24.19; 5. Molly Ockuly (Midview), 21:37.51; Other top local finishers: 6. Dilynn Copley (Firelands), 21:42.69; 9. Emma Calkins (Lake Ridge), 21:53.62; 12. Hannah Bacskay (Midview), 22:15.85; 14. Olivia Hudson (Oberlin), 22:16.36; 15. Natalie Smith (Firelands), 22:21.55; 22. Aubrey Abeyta (Oberlin), 23:08.72; 24. Lily Shmois (Lake Ridge), 23:29.84; 25. Rose Marie Boyer (Oberlin), 23:31.0; 31. Alexandra Cicerchi (North Ridgeville), 24:19.30; 32. Courage Bielawski (Oberlin), 24:27.77; 33. Lucy Groshek (Elyria Catholic), 24:28.78; 34. Gianna Camera (Firelands), 25:03.58; 35. Sophia Morgan (Firelands), 25:08.37; 37. Diem Vanderpool (Firelands), 25:10.99; 38. Zeali Overstreet (Lake Ridge), 25:16.39; 39. Evalynn Thompson (Midview), 25:16.83; 40. Scarlett Vaughn (Firelands), 25:18.64.