2 Knights earn state berth | News, Sports, Vacancies

Eisenhower seniors Joe Mistretta and Emily Grosch qualified for states in their races Saturday at the District 10 1A Cross Country Championships in Titusville. Photo courtesy of Times Observer

TITUSVILLE — Two Knights — one in each race — qualified for states after Saturday’s District 10 Class 1A cross country championships at the Ed Mayer Complex.

In the boys race, senior Joseph Mistretta finished 10th overall out of 127 male finishers in 17:09. The top two teams, Lakeview and Wilmington, automatically qualified for states, and the next 10 individual finalists also qualified. Mistretta finished fifth in individual qualifying.

For the Lady Knights, where Lakeview and Mercer runners were automatic qualifiers, Ike’s Emily Grosch finished among the individual state qualifiers. The senior finished 12th overall or seventh among 10 individual qualifiers with a time of 21:03.

The Lady Knights finished fifth out of 13 scoring teams. Sophomore Izzy Grosch finished just outside the individual qualifiers, 18th out of 93 runners in 21:17, or just three seconds behind the qualifying finisher. Other Ike runners included senior Peyton Kellogg (21st, 21:24 or 10 seconds from qualifying), junior Laney Font (47th, 23:22), sophomore Callie Delp (57th, 24:24). 34) and junior Lillian Cathcart (79th place). , 27:41).

After Mistretta, other Eisenhower finishers in the boys race included sophomore Mason Britt (40th, 18:27), freshman Alex Lund (44th, 18:29), freshman Bryce Ludwick (90th, 20:27). 45), senior Aidon Knowles (101st place). , 21:20), senior Timothy McAuley (108th, 21:50) and sophomore Jonathan Bogniak (118th, 24:31).

“I was very pleased with both teams on Saturday.” said Eisenhower coach Darlene Beach. “They played smart and gave everything they had. Although it has been a difficult season for him, Joe Mistretta ran a great race. He fell on the second lap, but got right back up and was back in the race for a top-ten finish. Emily Grosch is such a hard worker and very determined. The entire team is excited and happy that they have earned a trip to the state meet in Hershey.

“Izzy Grosz and Peyton Kellogg had fantastic races and were just a few points short of states, finishing in 16th place.” Beach added. “Rookie Laney Font advanced in the second half of the course and set a personal best, while her teammates Callie Delp and Lilly Cathcart produced some of their best times of the season. Sophomore Mason Britt had a breakout race for 40th place, while freshmen Alex Lund and Bryce Ludwick posted season-best times. Seniors Aidon Knowles and TJ McAuley finished their cross-country careers with strong runs. Jonathan Bogniak also showed a personal best time for the distance.”