BRONX — The Fredonia cross country team made the long trek to the Bronx to compete in the Manhattan Invitational at Van Cortlandt Park on Sunday and had several great performances on the iconic hilly 2.5 mile course.
Five Hillbillies earned medals after cracking the top 75 in the Boys and Girls Varsity B divisions. Trent Krenzer led the way posting a time of 14:42.40 for 25th, Jimmy Fagan was 34th at 14:58.80, Nathan Keefe earned 55th at 15:30.60, Meredith Lendt was 34th at 17:25.20 and Izzie Czekanski claimed 48th at 18:02.70. The Fredonia boys finished 12th out of 21 teams in its division, while the girls claimed 17th out of 23.
However, locally, it was Maple Grove junior Ethan Verbosky stealing the show as he nabbed second-place in the Boys Varsity E division after posting a time of 13:34.40. Verbosky was only outdone by Suffern senior Jack Bowman, running a time of 13:22.50 for first place. Verbosky’s effort propelled the Maple Grove team to a fourth-place finish among the 21 teams in the division.
Also earning medals for the Maple Grove boys are Jacob Lewis in 38th at 14:44.0, Jack Sherry in 36th at 14:45.10, Liam Price in 41st at 14:49.20 and Joshua Ashbaugh in 57th at 15:19.80.
The Maple Grove girls earned medalist performances from Presley Haines in 41st at 17:59.40, Mae Benedetto in 64th at 18:49.20 and Evalyn Fessel in 70th at 18:59.80.
Representing the Frewsburg Bears, senior Cody Kent cracked the top 10 in the Boys Varsity B division after posting a time of 13:54.00 for 7th. The division was claimed by Xavier May of Chelmsford High School with a time of 13:10.90.
The overall boys champion was Joe Barrett of Christian Brothers Academy running a time of 12:20.70 and the girls champion was Zariel Macchia of William Floyd at 14:24.40.
FREDONIA
BOYS VARSITY: Krenzer 14:42, Fagan 14:58, Keefe 15:30, Solomon McKnatt 16:01, Jack Fagan 16:53, Garrett Lesch 17:48, Danny Phillips 18:09
GIRLS VARSITY: Lendt 17:25, Czekanski 18:02, Emily McCann 21:24, Rosemary Gugino 21:34, Mikaylee Baliya 22:13, Khloey Miller 26:18, Liz Proper 26:29
MAPLE GROVE
BOYS VARSITY: Verbosky 13:34, Lewis 14:44, Sherry 14:45, Price 14:49, Ashbaugh 15:19, Brennan Muecke 15:56, Owen Erlandson 16:14
GIRLS VARSITY: Haines 17:59, Benedetto 18:49, Fessel 18:59, Sydney Simmons 19:43, Ellie Burnenavs 20:10, Rylie Allen 20:31, Lily Bohall 22:21