Notre Dame Prep Edges John Carroll for IAAM A Conference Championship
Ricaurte runs best time of day, Stasakova repeats in A Conference
By Craig Amoss
Maeve Ricuarte wasn�??t certain if she could run the day�??s best time at the IAAM championships at Oregon Ridge, so she put the 5K race out of her mind entirely and thought along the lines of 100K.
As in chocolate bar.
�??The one-hundred grand, that�??s definitely my favorite,�?� said the Glenelg Country School junior. �??I just came out and was thinking about trick-or-treating later just to keep morale up.�?�
The dextrose in her mind obviously was enough as she finished in a meet-best time of 19:01 to win the IAAM B Conference individual championship, nine seconds ahead of John Carroll�??s Erika Stasakova, who retained her IAAM A Conference championship in 19:10.
�??We figured we could get it (the best time),�?� said Glenelg coach Trey Cassidy, whose team came thisclose to the Institute of Notre Dame for the B Conference title, instead finishing second by an excruciatingly close 37-38 score. �??Maeve didn�??t think so, but I did.�?�
Notre Dame Prep coach Tom Klein figured his team�??s chances hinged on how well his his pack runners could stand up to defending A Conference champion John Carroll�??s twin gazelles, Stasakova and Nicole Clarke. Although Stasakova managed to retain her individual crown, an under-the-weather Clarke faded to 11th. It was a bittersweet victory for Stasakova, who admitted that not having her customary running mate (and best friend) next to her proved to be a distraction.
�??When she�??s not there with me, I can�??t run as well as I usually do because I depend on her to push me,�?� she said afterward.
The Blazers, meanwhile, placed six of seven runners in the top 25, led by Jo Rubino (8th, 20:19), Liz Schiavone (10th, 20:25), Mary Bogliano (13th, 20:32), Nicole Troiani (15th, 20:47), Sarah Lynagh (16th, 20:55), and Rosie Miola (21st, 21:00) to edge John Carroll 62-74, for the overall team championship.
�??We were definitely not the favorite, but we had an idea that our pack could give us a chance to win,�?� said Klein, whose team captured its second A Conference crown in three years. �??We came out looking to win, but I also knew second place was a distinct possibility.�?�
�??Our goal at the beginning of the season was third place, and coach kept moving up the goal,�?� added Miola.
The Blazers�?? team slogan, Can�??t Smoke this Pack, may not win them any points with the anti-smoking lobby, but it certainly wins meets. And it reflects a closeness that goes beyond the cross country course.
�??What makes our team special is our pack,�?� said Miola. �??But not only do we have a close-knit pack, it�??s more than that. I don�??t think we could get any closer. I feel like I have 71 best friends on this team.�?�
A Conference Results
1 Stasakova, Erika John Carroll School 19:10 1
2 Baird, Jo McDonogh School 19:22 2
3 Tauber, Elizabeth John Carroll School 19:41 3
4 Randolph, Colleen St. Mary's High 19:57 4
5 Sacker, Katie Seton Keough 20:04 5
6 Shea, Colleen Seton Keough 20:07 6
7 Dulac, Madeline McDonogh School 20:16 7
8 Rubino, Jo Notre Dame Prep 20:19 8
9 Dennis, Samantha Archbishop Spalding 20:20 9
10 Schiavone, Liz Notre Dame Prep 20:25 10
A Conference Results
1 Notre Dame Prep 62 8 10 13 15 16 21
2 John Carroll School 74 1 3 11 29 30 55
3 McDonogh School 94 2 7 19 27 39 53
4 Maryvale Preparatory 111 12 14 20 32 33 46
5 Seton Keough High School 112 5 6 18 34 49 64 65
B Conference Results
1 Ricaurte, Maeve Glen Elg Country 19:01 1
2 Steinmetz, Sarah Inst Notre Dame 19:43 2
3 Matthews, Samantha Glen Elg Country 19:47 3
4 O'Dunne, Katie Glen Elg Country 20:11 4
5 Rybczynski, Emma Inst Notre Dame 20:34 5
6 Jackson, Maddy Inst Notre Dame 20:59 6
7 Ellis, Dorothy St. Paul's SG 21:09 7
8 Gessler, Julie Inst Notre Dame 21:25 8
9 Peterman, Emily Glen Elg Country 21:29 9
10 Prey, Katie Roland Park 21:33 10
B Conference Results
1 Institute of Notre Dame 37 2 5 6 8 16 50 51
2 Glen Elg Country School 38 1 3 4 9 21 36
3 Roland Park Country Schoo 93 10 13 20 24
4 Severn School 109 11 14 18 29 37 38
5 Garrison Forrest School 164 25 27 34 35 43 54 61
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