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Howland’s Mauri fourth at state meet
Symbolik, Rupe, Copploe
all finish among top 20
runners in their races
By BOB ETTINGER
HEBRON
There are just some days things don’t go the way you’d expect. Howland senior Vinny Mauri fell victim to that circumstance at the Ohio Cross Country championships on Saturday.
“You try to think as positive as you can,” Mauri said. “The course was changed — again — the day of the race. I had no idea what was going on, but there was nothing I could do about it.”
Mauri finished fourth in Division I in 15:57 after contending for the lead for much of the race.
“Honestly, that was unacceptable,” Mauri said. “I’m very disappointed with my performance today. It was cold. I tightened up. I tried to push through it, but it didn’t work.”
If there was one positive for Mauri in the outcome, his future roommate at Arizona State took home the title. Conant Smith won in 15:43.
“If there was anyone who went out and went except me, I’m glad it was him,” Mauri said. “I’m proud of him. It means a lot to me to see him win.”
A muddy track, colder temperatures and the last-minute course change all conspired to hurt Mauri.
“If the conditions were better, I’d have been up with him and we’d have pushed 15 minutes. That was just not happening today. Honestly, [the pace] was easy,” Mauri said. “I was just going along. I don’t know what happened. I think it was just a bad day.”
McDonald finished fourth as a team with 161 points in the Division III race.
Connor Symbolik was 10th in 16:57.0 to pace the Blue Devils, but Brody Rupe was hot on his heels in 11th in 16:57.1. They were followed by Zack Canada in 58th in 17:40, Elliot Gibbons in 79th in 17:51 and Ethan Domitrovich in 100th in 18:04.
Maplewood was led by Hunter Omerzo in 82nd place in 17:53. The Rockets were 19th with 444 points in Division III.
Giovanni Copploe of Canfield just made the podium in 19th place in 16:31, though immediately after the race he thought he’d just missed the cut in Division I.
“I didn’t place where I wanted,” Copploe said. “I think I missed the podium. It’s disappointing to be here three years and miss the podium.”
But Copploe passed several runners approaching the finish line to advance his position.
“I knew I was on the edge of making the podium,” he said. “I was just racing for that last podium spot. I think I was short.”
In Division II, Salem was 19th as a team with 438 points. Hunter Christopher was the first Quaker in at 28th place in 17:11.