GI boys harriers win invitational, remain undefeated in league

Grand Island Dispatch, September 29, 2006

The Grand Island boys cross country team won its first invitational meet of the season Saturday on a wet Beaver Island course. The team won the Western New York Officials Invitational Division II led by sophomore Evan Tsembelis, who finished seventh overall and first in Division II.

“Times really do not mean much today as the race got progressively worse as the day went on,” said GI coach Don Sauer. “The last races the runner ran is a quagmire six to eight inches deep.”

“It was our best showing of the season,” Sauer added.

Chris Carter won his race impressively, taking the lead after the first half-mile and never letting up. Other top performers were Brett Fiedler, Joe Mash, and Ryan Hagen.

The team beat Lew-Port and CSAT Tuesday to improve their record to 3-0 as Tsembelis won in 18:33, with Fiedler second and Carter third. Hagen and Mash also scored, while six of the top seven Vikings ran their best times at Bond Lake Park.

The girls team took second in Division II at the Officials meet, led by junior Caitlyn Driscoll, who was sixth in her division and 11th overall.

Co-captain Bridget George placed 19th overall. Emily Kahn took seventh in her race with Traci Aladeen taking 13th. Karen Bellanca placed 11th in her race to round out the scoring.

Tuesday, the girls beat CSAT but lost to L-P 26-29. Driscoll placed a strong second followed by George in third and Kahn, fifth. Sophomore Emily Thompson was ninth and Bellanca, 10th.

The next league meet is against Kenmore West on Tuesday at Beaver Island. The meet starts at 4:30 p.m.

The next invitational meet is Saturday in Rochester at the McQuaid meet.