By: Kristy Booher Angelo, Associate Athletic Director
For More Info: booherk@gilmour.org
It's been a year like no other as the Gilmour Academy cross country program has been forced to change course on several occasions this season. This past week, the Lancers were set to head to the Trumbull County Fairgrounds for a premier meet, but had their path diverted the night before the event.
Undaunted, head coach Matt Lindley '89 sprang into action, along with area coaches Dave Englander of Shaker Heights, Clark Turner of Hathaway Brown, Jack Somers of University School and Scott McNulty of Cleveland Heights. In the span of an hour, the group put together a replacement meet hosted by Cleveland Heights at Forest Hills Park.
The Lancers headed off to the newly created event on what proved to be a beautiful fall morning for a race. The girls ran first in a race packed with top runners. Three of the four teams on the line are currently ranked in the Top 10 in the state, including Shaker Heights (Division I No. 8), Hathaway Brown (Division II No. 9) and Gilmour (Division III No. 6). The race did not disappoint as the elite runners from these squads put on a show, scorching the course with many personal bests. At the end, the score was Shaker 32, Gilmour 44, HB 46 and Cleveland Heights (Incomplete).
Against these powerful teams, the Lancers all stepped up and ran determined races. Amy Weybrecht '24 (pictured on the left) led the way in second place with a career-best time of 18:49.4. This impressive time moves her up to fourth on the all-time leader board in program history, passing Lancer legends Bekka Simko '10, Alexis Anton '13, Andrea Pinchak '02 and Cindy Pickering '86.
Caitrina Barton '21 also ran a career-best as the senior captain crossed the line sixth in 19:26. The rest of the top seven all had career-bests as well, and helped the team edge HB. Mary Lombardo '22 broke 20 minutes for the first time (eighth place in 19:57.2) and Gia Rosko '24 (11th in 20:31.3) and Mia Polisena '22 (17th in 20:57.8) rounded out the scoring for the Lancers. Anna Grossner '24 (23rd in 21:56.9) and Anna Lisac '24 (28th in 23:15.0) both ran the best races of their young careers and gave the varsity seven the extra depth needed.
The boys took to the course second, and running against three strong Division I squads, the young Lancers ran fearlessly with gutsy races that resulted in all five boys running career bests. Tim Papsczun '24 and Michael Piccirillo '24 crossed the line together in a tight finish that saw both PR in 19:15. GA soccer standout Alexander Beedles '22 showed his tremendous all-around athletic ability, running a 21:14.7 to take 39th. Andrew Lewis '23 (pictured on the right) broke 23 minutes for the first time, running 22:47.3 to take 46th, and Ben Lindley '24 ran 24:16.2 to finish 48th. The meet was won by US with Shaker close behind. Cleveland Heights took third, with GA placing fourth.
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