While few major invitationals took place this weekend, the ones that did take place were mighty intense, and featured some amazing results. Key weekend match-ups set the tone for the rest of the season, as conference and state-series action starts to occur next weekend.
MileSplit's "Running Around the Nation" - Weekend Wrap-Up
Portage Invitational (MI)
Portage Invitational Meet Page
Boys
Many of the top teams around Michigan assembled at the Portage Invitational Saturday. Record high temperatures effected runners all across the Midwest, and the Portage Invitational was no different.
The key match-up pitted two of the top three teams in Michigan. Fremont v. Dexter highlighted the entire meet. From the gun, the two teams clashed at every position. Coming through the first mile, the two teams were evenly matched, with Fremont holding a slight advantage on the fifth spot. The heat of the day took its toll on the second mile, as the race slowed down dramatically. At the two mile mark Fremont had a clear lead on the back end of their varsity pack. Into the shoot they came, with Fremont capturing the team title easily over a spent Dexter, 61-105. Both squads faught greatly, but Fremont's pack of strong runners took out Dexter's 4-5 rather easily, winning them the race. James Lanciaux (Sr., Fremont) won the race in 15:24 over Foot Locker contender Bobby Aprill (Sr.) and Aprill's teammate Jason Bishop (Jr.), as the two took second and third.
Meanwhile in the Division 1 Boys Race, U.S. ranked Pinckney (MI) showed a lot of weakness, nearly losing to Michigan-ranked Saline. Pinckney pulled away in the final mile to beat Saline 93-108, as their 4-5 runners ran great to win them the race. Justin Heck (Sr., Monroe, MI) won the individual title in 15:42.
Girls
The main attraction of the girls races was Alex Banfich (Sr., Culver Academies, IN), who traveled from Indiana to take on the top Michigan girls. Banfich showed her strength over the last mile, pulling away from a pack of three other girls, winning the race in 17:59, winning by eleven seconds. Runner-up Allison Radamacher (Sr., Grand Ledge, MI), ran a stellar race as well, showing she could hang with the Foot Locker finalist.
In the team race, only four points seperated race champion Saline from second-place Brighton, as Saline won 110-114. Grand Haven (MI) was a close third, scoring 117 points, while Traverse City Central (MI) took fourth with 124 points. Saline won each match-up with the other three teams off of strong finishes.
McNally Sets the Pace at Steel City Invitational (PA)
Steel City Invitational Meet Page
At the Steel City Invitational Saturday, Pennsylvania standout, and top ten ranked Foot Locker contender, Vince McNally (Sr., Conestoga Valley), won big over the difficult 5k layout in an impressive 15:37. McNally, never having won the invitational before, beat Boyertown's (PA) Mark Dennin by nearly half a minute, showing why he will challenge for the national title come December.
The Coatesville (PA_ boys won the team title for the fourth year in a row, as they beat runner-up Council Rock North (PA) by 17 points. In the girls race, Northern York won the team title, while Heather Giovagnoli (Sr., Spring-Ford) won the individual title over Northern York's Rachel Wong by ten seconds.
Ley and Leung Win Big at Shore Coaches Inv. (NJ)
Shore Coaches Invitational Meet Page
Brian Leung (Sr., WW-PHSS) ran the fastest time of the day at the Shore Coaches Invitational Saturday in New Jersey. Leung led big from start to finish, beating his nearest competition by over a minute, as he ran a mighty 15:52. In the girls race, Chelsea Ley (So., Kingsway Regional) beat a very credible challenger in Lauren Penney (Sr., Roxbury) by 43 seconds, proving to be one of the top girls on the east coast.
US #5 Neuqua Valley Continues to Roll (IL)
Sterling Invitational Meet Page
US #5 Neuqua Valley (IL) continues to show why they may be the top team in the country, beating runner-up Conant (IL) 39-109, as Neuqua Valley placed three in the top five, and their top five in the top twenty. NV, running without their number two man, was led by Foot Locker ranked Chris Derrick (Sr.), who once again shattered a course record, this time running 14:26 over the three mile spread, beating teammate Danny Pawola (So.), who took second, by 40 seconds.
Kroeger Shows Her Strength at Jesse Owens (AL)
Jesse Owens Invitational Meet Page
Kathy Kroeger (Jr., Independence, TN) competed against one of the better fields in the South at the Jesse Owens Invitational, coming out on top by a nice margin. Kroeger, still coming back from taking the spring track season off, looked impressive in the win, overtaking the field by 23 seconds, winning in 18:08. Trying to make a steady and quiet comeback, Kroeger continues to show signs of last year's form, although top form of a Foot Locker champion is still a ways away.
Tennessee Weekend Wrap-Up (Tennessee Runner.com)