Runners post personal best times at Westover Invitational

ALBANY — Favorable weather conditions plus a familiar track helped several Albany area cross country teams post personal best times at the Westover Invitational on Saturday. The meet was held at Robert Cross Middle School and featured local schools Westover, Monroe, Albany, Lee County, Deerfield-Windsor and host of others.

In the girls 5000 meter run, Woodland High took first with a combined time of 1:37:57 and an average time of 19:35.21 Deerfield-Windsor was the highest finishing Albany team, finishing fourth overall with a combined 1:45:58 and an average time of 21:11.55. Lee County finished ninth with a combined time of 1:54:25, Westover 12^th at 1:58:23 and Monroe came in at 14^th with a combined time of 2:04:45.

Deerfield’s Camryn Bridges finished 14^th overall with a time of 19:54.03. Coach Jake Clawson said his team was able to show what they’re capable of after being hampered by injuries.

“Our girls are really strong,” he said. “They’ve been banged up and injured so today was the first day we’ve had our top five all together. They went out and they competed and I’m proud of them.”

On the boys side, Collins High took top honors in the 5000 meter run with a combined time of 1:22:08 and an average time of 16:25.50. Deerfield-Windsor was once again the highest placing city team, finishing ninth with a combined time of 1:29:20 and an average time of 17:51.90. Lee County finished 12^th with a combined time of 1:30:42, Westover 18^th at 1:34:03 and Albany High at 19^th with a combined time of 1:35:25.

Ethan Merritt of Deerfield finished 14^th overall with a time of 16:37.14, breaking a school-record much to the satisfaction of Clawson.

“Individually we ran really well,” he said. “Ethan Merritt broke our school record, he ran 16:38, Porter Hill broke our freshman record and ran 17:01 … our team’s strong.”

Westover head coach Stacie Smith said she saw many of her girls post their fastest times of the season as well. She said it was a meet where their practice paid off.

“We got some of the best race weather we’ve had all year as well,” she said. “The girls have been working hard, they’ve been working hard at staying together and I think it paid off.”

Monroe head coach Jennifer Acree said her team came in with modified goals and they were able to rise to the challenge.

“We were looking for our girls to run under a certain time as a team,” she said. “We’re missing some girls, but the five that we had really stepped up and ran pretty well.”

Both teams had the opportunity to see their region competition and Smith said it’s going to be stiff come championship time.

“There are gonna be some very good competitors,” she said. “We’re gonna have to be on our A-game to beat them at region, but I’m feeling pretty good. I’m seeing huge improvement from my runners. I think that they’re serious and want to get after this and go get region.”

Acree also believes they’re running in a strong region, but her team’s showing Saturday morning gives her confidence.

“We’ve got a pretty good chance of doing well,” she said. “Not just our girls cross country team, but our boys as well. Our boys posted great times, fastest times of the season, so we’re gonna give the region a run for their money for title.”