Cross country: Different strategy pays off for Brunswick's Evan Jarold at Strongsville invite

STRONGSVILLE — Maybe the picture-perfect weather Saturday morning pushed cross country standout Evan Jarold to another personal record. Or maybe his mullet haircut provided an aerodynamic effect. Either way, the Brunswick senior continued his impressive start to the season by winning the Strongsville Vertical Runner Invitational. "Most of other races are on flat courses like this, so I usually go out kind of slower," he said. "But I knew I had a chance to win this meet, so I just took it out from the gun." The tactic worked, as the regional qualifier took the lead the midway through and never looked back en route to a 16:01.49, which was 13 seconds ahead of the field and more than 30 faster than his previous best. Jarold, who was sidelined for two weeks with lower leg discomfort, pulled away from Tiffin Columbian's Caden Grovers and Highland's Elijah Hadler. "I was sitting in second pretty much until the mile and a half," he said. "Coming out of the woods, I just passed them and put that lead further and further out." Jarold headlined a record-setting day for a handful of Medina County boys, as Highland took the title in impressive fashion by outlasting Solon 85-89. Led by Hadler, the Hornets' top four runners recorded personal bests after competing in nothing but dual meets over the last month. Hadler overcame almost losing his footing in the opening mile to pass Grovers (16:21.82) with less 1,000 meters left to finish second in 16:15.14. Max McAdams (16:27.59) was just seconds behind in sixth. Logan Warner and Jack Curtis added a 17:01.57 and 17:09.87, respectively, as Highland had the right combination. "It was a great race," said Hadler, whose previous PR came a week earlier on the same course. "We came in here knowing that we could do really well in this meet. Max and I performed well and our 3-5; Logan, Jack and Luke, performed well, too. "This is one of my favorite courses because there is not that many hills and it's very grassy. I knew what to expect." Brunswick was fourth, with Alex Keller's eighth-place, career-best 16:31.81 providing support behind Jarold. Medina took fifth and Cloverleaf sixth. The Colts' Nolan Freeland continued his impressive start with a personal-record 16:32.87, while Medina's Jake Parkhurst (11th, 16:46.91), Cloverleaf's Luke Malena (14th, career-low 16:54.06) and Medina's Cameron Schontzler (15th, 16:55.11) also had strong runs. The girls race was another battle between state-ranked teams Medina and Cloverleaf. The Bees' depth took the victory with 68 points, followed by the Colts (97). Highland (125) was fourth and Brunswick (144) fifth. Despite Jenna Razavi being the lone top-10 runner for Medina, its pack helped lock up the win as Kayla Kutcel (12th, 20:14.35), Elly Heine (15th, 20:24.28), Kylie O'Cull (16th, 20:24.86) and Reagan Kole (19th, 20:30.05) came in together. Razavi focused on the set of girls behind Katie Clute of Olmsted Falls, who led from start to finish, and Julia Isham of Strongville to pace herself. "I've been taking all of my races out fast this season, but it's always a challenge. I like to get out in the front, so I can try and work with those girls because they're all really talented. "(Clute) was really far, but there was a second group of really good girls that I could work with." Cloverleaf's dynamic duo of Sophia Spencer and Alyssa Stoner led all county finishers, placing fourth and fifth by less than a second apart. Spencer kept near the front for the entire race, while Stoner made a move midway through before an impressive final mile helped her pass a handful of other runners. "I kept getting trapped behind other girls in the middle of the race, but there were gaps that I could fit around," said Stoner, who finished in 19:33.27. "In the woods, about at the two mile, I started to try and get around and I always try to have my last mile be the fastest." Spencer, a state qualifier in 2019, did everything she could to stay with the two leaders but found it difficult over the final half of the race. "I just wanted to keep (Clute) in sight in the first little bit but, after the two mile, it got a little harder," Spencer said. "I liked the pace, though. I don't know what happened in the last little bit." Brunswick's Teo Iovi was right behind Razavi in seventh (19:38.90), with Highland's Madelynn Madison recording another season-best, finishing eighth in 19:39.87. The Devils' Abby Bardwell (17th, 20:25.14) also was strong, followed by the Hornets' Kelsey Sheridan (18th, 20:27.87) Contact Dan Brown at sports@medina-gazette.com. ResultsStrongsville Vertical Runner InvitationalBoysTeam standings: 1. Highland 85, 2. Solon 89, 3. Massillon Perry 114, 4. Brunswick 115, 5. Medina 119, 6. Cloverleaf 134, 7. Tiffin Columbian 170, 8. Walsh Jesuit 181, 9. Strongsville 186, 10. Nordonia 217, 11. Olmsted Falls 298, 12. Eastlake North 340.Individual results: 1. Evan Jarold (Bru) 16:01.49, 2. Elijah Hadler (H) 16:15.14, 3. Caden Grovers (TC) 16:21.82, 4. Luke Ondracek (WJ) 16:26.49, 5. Kyle Woods (MP) 16:26.80, 6. Max McAdams (H) 16:27.59, 7. Connor Reed (MP) 16:29.01, 8. Alex Keller (Bru) 16:31.81, 9. Nolan Freeland (Clo) 16:32.87, 10. Johnny Cciccero (So) 16:39.39.Highland (85): 2. Hadler 16:15.14, 6. McAdams 16:27.59, 20. Logan Warner 17:01.57, 25. Jack Curtis 17:09.87, 32. Luke Owens 17:24.76, 45. Nate Dimalanta 17:45.59, 59. Zach Paulus 18:15.82.Brunswick (115): 1. Jarold 16:01.49, 8. Keller 16:31.81, 19. Brandon Kraft 17:00.38, 30. Adam Hyde 17:23.03, 57. Josh Watkins 18:13.72, 66. Tyler Hovanec 18:26.21, 69. Andrew Schuller 18:27.81.Medina (119): 11. Jake Parkhurst 16:46.91, 15. Cameron Schontzler 16:55.11, 26. Brian Kerrigan 17:10.78, 33. Kyle Gordon 17:24.83, 34. Darren Leupp 17:31.24, 35. Eli Schmeller 17:31.48, 37. Andrew Piehler 17:35.12.Cloverleaf (134): 9. Freeland 16:32.87, 14. Luke Malena 16:54.06, 23. Brett Gucker 17:05.59, 4. Andrew Hibler 17:09.80, 64. Vova Herdman 18:25.75, 70. Hunter Stallings 18:35.88, 73. Cole Yagersz 18:52.05.GirlsTeam standings: 1. Medina 68, 2. Cloverleaf 97, 3. Olmsted Falls 120, 4. Highland 125, 5. Brunswick 144, 6. Rocky River 145, 7.Individual results: 1. Katie Clute (OF) 18:01.96, 2. Julia Isham (S) 18:59.08, 3. Lillie Katsaras (OF) 19:27.91, 4. Sophia Spencer (Clo) 19:32.03, 5. Alyssa Stoner (Clo) 19:33.27, 6. Jenna Razavi (Med) 19:36.96, 7. Teodora Iovi (Bru) 19:38.90, 8. Madelynn Madison (H) 19:39.87, 9. Ellie Radis (So) 19:43.06, 10. Ella Kuhlman (Mags) 20:00.90.Medina (68): 6. Razavi 19:36.96, 12. Kayla Kutcel 20:14.35, 15. Elly Heine 20:24.28, 16. Kylie O'Cull 20:24.86, 19. Reagan Kole 20:30.05, 25. Valerie Suttman 20:41.10, 32. Cara Razavi 21:00.98.Cloverleaf (97): 4. Spencer 19:32.03, 5. Stoner 19:33.27, 22. Maria Porras 20:34.88, 29. Megan Knapp 20:54.89, 37. Paige Munchick 21:20.44, 52. Allison Yagersz 21:20.94, 65. Brooke Gucker 22:28.95.Highland (125): 8. Madison 19:39.87, 18. Kelsey Sheridan 20:27.87, 24. Isabella Mancuso 20:39.35, 34. Kaitlin Herman 21:05.09, 41. Courtney Eddy 21:29.07, 80. Gaby Miller 23:13.05, 81. Grace Lebek 23:19.20.Brunswick (144): 7. Iovi 19:38.90, 17. Abby Bardwell 20:25.14, 31. Lindsay Wolf 20:56.94, 43. Madison Daugherty 21:34.46, 46. Olivia Gottschling 21:49.01, 48. Morgan Roth 21:51.11, 50. Samantha Roth 21:54.11.