Marmion cruises to boys team title

Sunday, September 12 2010 - -


Marmion cruises to boys team title

September 12, 2010By TAMARA McQUEEN-SALENTINE For Sun-Times Media
  Font Size
 Email
 Bookmark
 White Text

AURORA -- Oswego East's Ariel Michalek owned the Royal Cadet girls cross county race Saturday at Marmion Academy.

The junior took the lead early and kept increasing it as she slogged through the slick and muddy three-mile course to finish the race in a 17 minutes, 53.2 seconds and best her nearest competitor by more than one minute.

ROYAL CADET INVITATIONAL

At Marmion Academy

Girls Team Results: Benet Academy 37, Oswego East 74, Oak Park-River Forest 88, Batavia 119, Rosary 124, Geneva 126, Leyden 218, Wheaton Academy 229, IMSA 242, Plainfield East 269, Hampshire 311, East Aurora 333, Hubbard 344, Rockford Christian Life 372.

Top five individuals: 1. Ariel Michalek (OE), 17:53.2; 2. Erin Schrobilgen (OPRF), 18:53.4; 3. Cassie Kruse (H), 18:59.6; 4. Rachael Spalding (BAT), 19:27.7; 5. Nini Marchese (BA), 19:53.4.

Boys Team Results: Marmion Academy 53, Benet Academy 100, Batavia 113, Glenbard East 118, Jones 139, East Aurora 178, Leyden 202, Oswego East 213, Plainfield East 221, Downers Grove South 229, Geneva 248, Glenbard West 317, IMSA 317, Wheaton Academy 338, Naperville Central 376, Hubbard 512, Rockford Christian Life 516.

Top five individuals: 1. Mike Fahey (GE), 16:14.2; 2. Fabian Cabrera (L), 16:21.3; 3. Bennett Marsh (MA), 16:23.3; 4. Gerardo Paleo (EA), 16:24.3; 5. Mike Redmond (BAT), 16:36.6.

"I just get out there as fast I can," she said.

Benet Academy posted 37 points to win the team title, followed by Oswego East (74) and Oak Park-River Forest (88).

The young Redwings packed together throughout the race and finished with a mere 15-second time difference between their first and fifth runners. Finishing in the top 10 for Benet were Nini Machese, Audrey Blazek, Liz Johnson, Maddy Gilleran and Peggy Flavin.

"We're just trying to get a good pack," Blazek said, "so that we can place well this year."

Batavia sophomore Rachael Spalding finished fourth to lead other local runners.

"My goal was to place in the top five, so I just stuck with the girl in front of me (Hampshire's Cassie Kruse) and just kept it consistent."

Boys: Marmion cruised to the boys team title with 53 points. The Cadets were led by seniors Bennett Marsh, who placed third, and Chris Hebert, who finished eighth.

"Our goal was to win this," Marsh said, "We haven't won our home meet in five years."

The Cadets scored their top five runners in the top 15. Also scoring for Marmion were Matt Choice, Eddie Grahovec and Will Graft.

"I think we did a really good job performing today," Hebert said.

Benet finished second with 100 points, followed by Batavia with 113.

Glenbard East junior Mike Fahey won the individual title in a time of 16:14.2. East Aurora's Gerardo Paleo (fourth) and Batavia's Mike Redmond (fifth) also placed in the top five.