SETTING THE SCENE: Milford’s boys cross country team is gaining momentum and setting new personal records as they ready for their next meet, the Milford Invitational on September 17th at Valley View Nature Preserve. Last weekend the squad headed to the Xavier Invitational to run with a field of 321 runners from fifteen teams. Four Eagles set new personal bests on cool and comfortable morning.
A LOOK BACK: The boys cross country team headed to Kingswood Park in Mason on a perfect morning to race for the Xavier Invitational. Team leader Harris Craycraft set a fast, early pace, and finished in 10th with a season’s best time of 17.16. Clayton Virzi surged to the shoulder of Craycraft, and in a career personal best17.17, Virzi finished just a stride behind Craycraft for 11th place overall. Another tight finish and new career bests followed, as Sean Vonderhaar (17.41 - 13th) and Peter Kroeger (17.42 - 14th) finished in the top twenty. As the fifth man, Luke Schneider lowered his career best to 18:27, a great time for a freshman who spends half of his time playing for the school soccer team.
The team finished the meet in 4th place of 15 teams, 20 points behind ECC rival and third place team Anderson. The varsity team from Badin won the meet, while the ECC’s Turpin finished third. Click here for complete results from Xavier Invitational.
THE WEEK AHEAD: Milford’s boys cross country team will have fourteen days off, as they prepare for and will host the Milford Invitational on Sat., Sept. 17th at Valley View Nature Preserve.
INSIDE THE ECC: Harris Craycraft remains Milford’s top runner, with a season’s best time of 17.16 that ranks him 6th in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference. On the heels of his new personal best time of 17.17, Clayton Virzi moves up to 7th in the ECC. Another pair of Eagles follow closely in the rankings, as Sean Vonderhaar (13th at 17.41) and Peter Kroeger (14th at 17.42) finished the Xavier Invite with new career personal bests. Luke Schneider, Milford’s fifth man, moved up to 35th following a 18.27 this weekend at Kingswood. Joseph Kruse (39th), Jake Young (45th), and Cooper Stooksbury (46th) all moved into the top fifty in the ECC standings.
POLL WATCH: No change was seen in the top three of the Cincinnati Enquirer area coaches’ poll for week two, as Mason, St. Xavier and Elder held their positions from week one. LaSalle and Lebanon moved up to fourth and fifth, while Loveland fell to sixth after rising to fourth last week. Fellow ECC member Kings fell as well, from sixth to seventh. Other ECC schools receiving votes in week one include Turpin (20), Anderson (9), and Milford, who received 2 votes this week.