Medina, Albion host N-O League X-C openers

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 21 September 2021 at 7:51 pm

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Arian Cayea, in front, and Gabe Mark head to the finish line with second and third place finishes respectively during the Mustangs home opening meet against Akron this afternoon.

Niagara-Orleans League cross-country competition got underway this afternoon as Medina and Albion both hosted meets.

Medina earned a split with Akron. The Mustangs won the boys meet by forfeit 15-50 as Akron had only four runners (a team needs five runners to score). The Tigers won the girls meet 15-48 as Lauren Wagner led the way in a time of 22:18.

In the boys race, Medina had eight of the top 10 finishers led by the 2-3-5 trio of Arian Cayea, Gabe Mark and David Vanderwalker. Akron’s Will Chubb won the race in 18:38.

The Albion girls earned a split defeating Roy-Hart 15-50 but losing to Wilson 23-32. Wilson also downed Roy-Hart 15-50.

Albion’s Gina Sidari won the race in 24:38 followed by the Wilson duo of Jackie Thompson and Ella Ingwersan.

In the boys meet, Wilson scored a sweep defeating Albion 20-36 and Roy-Hart 26-29. Roy-Hart also bested Albion 20-36.

Albion’s Reuben Rivers won the race in 18:20 followed by Roy-Hart’s Jay Heideman and Wilson’s Jayden Ruble.

In the other meet, Newfane swept Barker winning the boys meet 26-29 and the girls competition 16-46.

The Newfane boys were led by the 1-2 finish of Connor Cuzzacrea and Andrew Cuzzacrea.

Barker took the 3-4-5 spots with Mason Allee-Castro, Nate Hess and Dawson Donovan.

Newfane’s Kylie Bowman won the girls race followed by her teammates Leah Siegmann and Catelena Ersing.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Reuben Rivers of Albion is out in front through the soybean field behind Albion’s school campus during today’s cross country race in Albion. Jay Heideman of Roy-Hart was second in the race.

These three girls – Jackie Thompson of Wilson, Gina Sidari of Albion and Julia Miles of Roy-Hart – are among the lead group at about the halfway point of today’s 3.1 mile cross country race at Albion. Sidari had a strong sprint near the end for her first varsity win.