CROSS COUNTRY Bluejays' standout captures solo title

Luke McCluggage won the Division III title in a season-best 16:20.80.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Luke McCluggage insists he doesn't like running at Boardman High School.
It's not the heat, the hills or the competition.
It's the bad memories.
And on Saturday, McCluggage ran away from them.
The Jackson-Milton High senior showed why he's the area's best runner, cruising to the Division III boys title with a season-best time of 16 minutes, 20.80 seconds at the Boardman Invitational.
"This is really sweet," McCluggage said. "I think I could go faster if I need to. I slowed down at the end."
McCluggage, who finished fifth at last year's Boardman Invitational, struggled early in his career at Boardman and has never warmed to the course.
"I still don't like the course," he said, smiling.
But he also knows he can't avoid it. Boardman is the home site for the regional meet later this year, and McCluggage will need to run well to make it back to the state meet.
Nears his state time
He's already just three seconds off last year's state meet time (16:17), so his lofty postseason goals are within reach.
"My training is going real good," McCluggage said. "I just want to finish in the top three at state.
"This will help put me in that direction."
Of course, McCluggage isn't the only one with high state meet hopes.
McDonald, the state's top-ranked team in Div. III and last year's state runner-up, cruised to the team title, pulling away from Maplewood 39-81.
Seniors Joe Kunkel and Jason Corman finished 2-3 overall, while South Range junior Dan Nemergut placed fourth.
Div. II
Colin Durina placed sixth in the Div. II race to lead Cardinal Mooney to third place behind Ashtabula Edgewood and Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary.
"I was just looking for a top-20 finish," Durina, who finished 43rd last year, said.
Was he surprised?
"Actually, I was," he said with a smile. "I was looking at the names before the race, and everyone that beat me last year was back."
Mooney returned five of its top six runners from last year's team, but lost its top runner, Erik Moss. Durina has since seized the No. 1 position and the Cardinals are only getting better.
"This gives us a lot of confidence," he said.
Div. I
Boardman's Jim Hlebak finished 20th in the Div. I race, leading the Spartans to a fifth-place finish.
Mount Lebanon's James O'Toole placed first and Wooster won the team title.
scalzo@vindy.com