The Nordonia Knights girls’ cross country team had a triumphant day at the OHSAA Division 1 District in Madison 2023 on October 21, 2023. They breezed through the competition, securing a spot in the regional meet by finishing eighth out of 18 teams.
During the intense 5000-meter race, the Knights averaged a speedy 20 minutes and 50 seconds, resulting in a total of 194 points. Their fantastic five leading the charge were Olivia May (19:50.45), Sofia Bonanno (20:30.27), Ella Bonanno (20:56.91), Sarah Sedor (21:24.62), and Olivia Pecic (21:28.89).
The fierce Shaker Heights team, who dominated with just 38 points and an incredible average time of 19 minutes and 12 seconds, put the Knights’ mettle to the test. The individual crown went to Rae Kawalec from Chardon, who sprinted across the finish line in 18 minutes and 34.29 seconds, closely followed by Grace Kaelber from Shaker Heights in 18 minutes and 42.43 seconds. The triumphant trio heading to the regional meet consisted of Shaker Heights, Cleveland St. Joseph Academy, and Chardon.
In an impressive show of progress, the Knights shaved 26 seconds off their team average from the previous Suburban League Championship, where they landed fourth out of eight teams. They were the last squad to make the cut for the regional meet, a result of their top-eight team finish or top-32 individual finish rule.
The sole Knight to make individual cuts was Olivia May finishing 19th. Olivia May missed 18th place by a whisker, trailing behind Morgan Hillman from Solon, who clocked in at 19 minutes and 49.96 seconds. Sofia Bonanno was only two seconds away from the 31st-place runner, Amelia Litten from Cleveland St. Joseph Academy, finishing at 20 minutes and 28.44 seconds.
This season, the Knights boasted a youthful lineup, with just one senior athlete among their top seven runners. Their senior standout, Rachel Lahrmer, ran her final race, leaving behind a memorable legacy for the Knights.
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