CROSS COUNTRY Morgan, Arnio 1-2 to spark Rockets

The juniors led the Maplewood boys to a Spartan Invitational championship.
By MARK W. MILLER
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Juniors Andy Morgan and Andy Arnio ran side-by-side most of the race in leading the Maplewood High cross country team to victory in Saturday's Spartan Invitational at the Boardman High 5,000-meter course.
Morgan won the race in 16 minutes, 30.06 seconds and Arnio was second in 16:30.35.
"We run together and when we cross the finish line stride for stride, the officials decide who is first," Morgan said.
The Rockets won the Division III crown with 75 points. East Canton was second with 158 and Western Reserve Academy was third with 189. Twenty-eight teams competed.
Maplewood's Chaz Rice (17:33.07) was 11th, Justin Pykare (18:20.76) was 32nd and Kyle Doneyko (28:26.47) was 34th.
"We have a good, solid team," Maplewood coach Ted Rupe said. "Our kids support each other and when you have team environment like that you just get stronger, stronger.
"There is a lot more to accomplish, with big races left," Rupe said, "and hard work is very important at this point in the season."
Sees close race Tuesday
He said he thinks the Suburban League boys run at the Canfield Fairgrounds Tuesday will be a close one with Boardman, Mooney and McDonald the top contenders.
"We'll go there and see what we can do," Rupe said. "Hopefully we can in the top five."
Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy won the girls Div. III run with 75 points. Gilmour Academy was second with 76 and Woodridge was third with 176.
Maplewood placed fourth with 199 and McDonald was fifth with 224. The Rockets' Rochelle Rupe placed sixth (20:01.04). She was fourth at Tiffin last week.
Coach Rupe said he's happy for Rochelle Rupe for having finished in the top 10 in two of the state's biggest cross country meets.
Gillespie wins
Katie Gillespie of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy won the Spartan Invitational run (19:12.58).
Colin Durina of Mooney (16:45) was fourth in the Spartan Div. II run, helping the Cardinals place 10th.
"I'm where I should be right now and running better then I did at this time last year," said Durina, a senior. "As a team, we push each other at practice and we're doing the hills in Mill Creek Park to build endurance."
Mooney coach Adrian Mangino said, "Colin broke his own course record by 20 seconds at the East Palestine Rotary Invitational and finished second. He's where we want him to be right now."
Durina will defend his individual title at the Suburban League meet.
The Mooney girls placed third at the Spartan meet with 186 points. Minerva won with 170 points and Canton Central Catholic was third with 186.
The Cards' Christina Oles (20:36) was 15th, Lauren Finnerty (2:31) was 37th, Angela Urchak was 38th, Andrea Firth was 47th and Katie Lesko was 53rd.
"Our two freshman [Oles, Finnerty] really did well," Mangino said. "Anytime your team finishes in the top five at Boardman, that's satisfying."
Hoover triumphs
In the Div. I run, six of the top 10 teams were from the Federal League, with North Canton Hoover taking first place with 83 points. Boardman finished eighth with 270 and Canfield was 15th with 404.
Jake Lape of the Spartans (16:53) placed ninth in the race and teammate Matt Moore (17;17) was 23rd.
"I felt good about what we did today," Boardman coach Dave Pavlansky said. "Our young guys came through."
Massillon Jackson took first place in the girls Div. I run with 55 points. Boardman placed 15th with 383 and Canfield 21st with 493.
Emily Pritt (19:06.61) of Jackson won the race. Lauren Agnew (20:04.03) was 14th.