Williamsville schools dominate Don Hall invite
Cross country

Williamsville South's girls cross country team won the Don Hall Memorial Invitational for the first time in school history. Members of the team, pictured from left, are: first row - Rebecca Emo, Amanda Breymeier; Colleen Hurtubise, Jenny Mooney, Maggie Kreuz; second row - Lauren Mosier, Gretchen Szal, M.C. Aungst, Laura Johnston, Rachelle Moyer, Allison Schubert, Rachel Zucker; behind Zucker is Maxine Meyerhofer; missing from the photo - Santana Coon.

It was a good to be a member of a Williamsville cross country team at the Don Hall Memorial Invitational on Tuesday, Sept. 18.

Williamsville North repeated as boys champions while the Williamsville South girls took home top honors for the first time in school history. Each posted team scores of 31.

The North boys were followed by Williamsville East (56) and South (86) in second and third, respectively. It was South's highest finish at the meet despite having its top three runners out of the lineup because of injury and illness. Depew (95), Eden (120) and Maryvale (incomplete) rounded out the team scoring.

The North girls, ranked tenth in Western New York large schools, took third with 56 total points. East was fifth with 151 team points. Depew, ranked fifth in Western New York small schools, was second with 48 team points. Eden came in fourth at 141 points. Maryvale's team score was incomplete.

Boys

East's Andy MacDonald edged North's Mike Thielman, 17:39 to 17:45, to win the race. North runners Geoff Hurley (third, 17:58,), Ryan Perry (sixth, 19:11) and Joe Seitz (seventh, 19:23), East's Scott Ryan (fifth, 19:12) and Max Fogel (tenth, 19:56) and South's John Stark (eighth, 19:30) finished in the top ten.

Other finishers from the Williamsville schools were: Russ Scheiss (South, 12th, 20:13); Pat Steadman (North, 13th, 20:23); Steve Willert (North, 14th, 20:25); Bruce Hibler (South, 16th, 20:59); Zinan Cheng (East, 17th, 21:03); Robert Golightly (North, 21:04); Chris Bowers (South, 21:53); Vasi Vijay (East, 22:03); Nate Chertack (North, 22:24); Jake Vogan (South, 29th; 22:25); Carl Copeland (North, 22:30); Charles Jordan (North, 24:38); Don Seitz (North, 25:33); Rich Rockwell (North, 25:48); Robert Freeman (South, 26:27); William Freeman (South, 27:17); Brad Weinstein (North, 29:26).

Girls

South's Amanda Breymeier won the girls race in a time of 21:36. Depew's Jenna Majka was second in 22:04.

South had four other runners finishing in the top ten. They are: Colleen Hurtubise (fifth, 22:47), Jenny Mooney (sixth, 23:34), Maxine Meyerhofer (ninth, 24:05) and M.C. Aungst (tenth, 24:06). North's Kim Berus (seventh, 23:40) and Rachel Dorogi (eighth, 23:57) also posted top-ten times.

Other finishers from the Williamsville schools were: Natalie Worley (North, 11th, 24:10); Michelle Bauman (North, 13th, 24:32); Laura Johnston (South, 14th, 24:37); Lauren Mosier (South, 16th, 24:46); Amy Loud (North, 17th, 24:49); Caroline Steele (East, 24:49); Kaila Raybuck (North, 26:20);

Jill Cutspec (East, 26th, 26:29); Jessica Leising (North, 26:39); Colleen Lauer (East, 27:30); Stephanie Kranz (North, 27:42); Mary Barker (East, 28:23); Becca Miknis (East, 29:03), Lisa Lapuma (East, 29:29) and Laura Kiersz (East, 30:40).

South's Rachel Zucker, Gretchen Szal, Santana Coon, Allison Schubert, Rachelle Moyer, and Maggie Kreuz also ran well for South.

"For every (South) girl, it was the highest place they had ever attained in an invitational meet," said South coach Chuck Godfrey

South hosted Williamsville East in each team's opening league meet on Tuesday at Bassett Park. Results were unavailable before The Bee went to press. South competes on Saturday in the McQuaid Invitational in Rochester. East also will compete in the Hamburg Bulldog Challenge at 4 p.m. Friday at Chestnut Ridge Park. North hosts West Seneca West at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Bassett Park before also competing at McQuaid.