Girls cross country team opens season

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Neighbors | Submitted.The Boardman Spartans Girls Cross Country team opened their season with a victory at the Salem Early Bird Invitational on Aug. 24.

For the third straight year, the Boardman Spartans Girls Cross Country team opened their season with a victory at the Salem Early Bird Invitational on Aug. 24. Competing against a field of nine schools, the Spartans pulled off one of their most impressive victories with a score of just 33 points.

Four Spartans placed in the top 10. Leading was junior Jordan Grantonic, who eclipsed the field with a time of 19:59 and a first place overall finish followed by senior Emma Schwendeman, who placed sixth with a time of 21:12. Next to cross the line in ninth place was senior Trista Cunningham in 21:38 followed closely by senior Brandi Gatte in 10th with a time of 21:39. Rounding out the scoring for the Spartans was Katelynn Morrell, 11th place in 21:41.

“The girls ran very well and most of them ran much faster times compared to last year, said second-year coach Stacey Hunter.“I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”

The balance of the team also having strong performances were Ellie Larrier (14) 21:56, Regan O’Hara (29) 23:02, Abbey Evans (30) 23:05, Caitlyn Hadley (37) 23:32, Julia Lewis (38) 23:35, Emily Evans (39) 23:37, Brianna Gatte (45) 24:11, Andrah Toney (52) 24:48, Stiphany Tieu (55) 24:56, Stephanie DeMain (67) 26:25, Kelly Tomcsanyi (69) 26:44, Haley Gianfrancisco (74) 27:13, Emily Campana (76) 27:54, Jessica Parillo (79) 28:04 and Anya Bolger (100) 32:20.