GORSLINE LEADS ATHENS TO 7TH-PLACE FINISH IN SMALL SCHOOL RACE AT McQUAID INVITATIONAL

By: Tim Birney  /  October 2, 2021  /  Photo: Amanda Conklin

ROCHESTER — Senior Matt Gorsline finished 16th to lead Athens to a seventh-place finish in its Small Schools race at the prestigious McQuaid Invitational here Saturday at the Genesee Valley Park.

Waverly senior Nate Ackley finished 30th in a race that featured 38 complete teams, and a field of 317 runners.

We always look forward to going to McQuaid, it is a great opportunity for our kids to test themselves against really top-flight competition,” said Athens coach Mike Bronson. “We had a really successful day, the boys placed seventh as a team, which is our best team showing at McQuaid.  

“Matt Gorsline placed higher than any Athens boy has in the years we have been attending,” noted Bronson. “Ethan Denlinger ran a really good race, this is only his second year running, so 37th is a great finish.  

“It is good to have Kyle Anthony back, he just needs another race or two to get back to full strength,” continued Bronson.

“In the junior high boys race, Eli Hicks ran a tremendous race, he's only a 7th-grader, but he finished ninth in his race and ended up running the 9th-fastest time of the day for all junior high boys,” added Bronson.

Southwestern (NY) won the team title with 131 points, while North East (Pa.) was second with 156, and Vernon-Verona-Sherrill (NY) and Alden (NY) tied four third with 170 points. Athens finished with 276 points.

Gorsline clocked in at in 17:00.9, while junior Ethan Denlinger was 37th in 17:48.0, freshman Carter Lewis was 53rd in 18:09.4, and senior Kyle Anthony was 77th in 18:29.6.

Senior Izaak Hobday finished 110th in a time of 19:06.3 for the Wildcats, while sophomore Nate Prickitt was 115th in 19:15.6, and senior Sander Bertsch was 138th in 19:37.9

Ackley clocked in at 17:41.8, while senior Sam VanDyke was 223rd in 21:09.6, and sophomore Brayden Hurd was 239th in 21:33.2

BOYS JV RACE
Athens finished 20th out of 21 complete teams. There were 213 competitors in the field.

Freshman Aiden Oldryod led the junior ‘Cats with a 138th-place finish in 22:12.9, while senior Brendan Jones was 145th in 22:32.4, freshman Pierce Oldroyd was 159th in 23:37.6, freshman Ryan Gorman was 184th in 25:19.3, and freshman Lohith Kinthala was 206th in 28:09.1.

JUNIOR HIGH RACE
There were 18 complete teams and 212 runners in the field in the junior high race. Athens and Waverly both were incomplete.

Seventh-grader Eli Hicks led Athens with a ninth-place finish in a time of 8:28.8, while 8th-grader Charan Venkataswamy was 72nd in 10:02.1, and 8th-grader Arayan Gaur was 192nd in 13:53.3.

Seventh-grader Chase Hine led Waverly with a 47th-place finish in a time of 9:26.0, while 8th-grader Finn Wiliams was 62nd in 9:45.9, and 7th-grader Mark Myers was 191st in 13:51.6.