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Sarah Meek (Firestone), Kristi Kester (Ellet) and Claire Hardman (Firestone) placed first, second and third, respectively, during Tuesday's City Series girls cross country meet on Tuesday at Goodyear Heights Metro Park.
AKRON, Ohio – Last year, Firestone’s girls cross country team dethroned eight-time City Series champion Ellet by one point.
On Tuesday afternoon at Goodyear Heights Metro Park, the two longtime opponents renewed their rivalry and the Falcons won another close meet, 24-31.
“It’s always gone back and forth between us,” Firestone coach Malia Tschantz said. “So, there is a quiet rivalry.”
This season, Tschantz has a decided edge with senior Sarah Meek as her No. 1 runner and the clear-cut top competitor in the City.
“She’s very determined. She’s very confident, and she loves the sport,” Tschantz said. “She thinks beyond herself.”
Assistant coach Becca Ollish offered, “She is selfless.”
Meek covered the challenging 5,000-meter course in 19:56 and ran away from the field. Ellet junior Kristi Kester was second (21:30) and Firestone senior Claire Hardman third (22:04).
Buchtel sophomore Emani Griffin placed fourth (22:14).
On the boys side, Firestone is riding a string of eight straight championships since North won it in 2002.
East has stepped forward as the Falcons’ primary challenger and Firestone coach Tim Carroll welcomes the competition.
“It means more to the kids if they have somebody that’s challenging them and pushing them,” Carroll said. “We have that with Buchtel usually in track, and Kenmore. They had strong teams last year.
“It’s nice to have someone pushing you, so you just don’t think you are going to show up and easily win a race. It keeps you on your toes and it gives the kids something to push for. East has some really strong guys that aren’t going to be easy to beat. Our guys know they have to keep working. “
The Falcons nearly made it a complete sweep of teams from Buchtel and Ellet at Tuesday’s tri-meet.
The Falcons’ showdown with East is not until Oct. 4.
Seniors Arian Daneshvar (18.19) and Claude Christiansen-Diehl (18:31) ran 1-2 for Firestone.
In the meantime, if not for Kenmore’s Rogerick Washington (20:56), the East Dragons nearly made it a complete sweep of their two City opponents, North and Kenmore.
Senior Ishmael Jackson was the first one in for North (22:41).
“We’re hoping to take City,” said East senior Kyle Stanley, who placed first (18:23) for the Dragons. “We’ve been working hard all season and we’re looking to knock off Firestone this year and get our school a City championship.”
Chaz Lewis and David Powell ran 2-3 for East coach John MacLean.
“We try to keep everybody as close as we can,” Lewis said. “As long as we can stick together we can push in between Firestone’s 3, 4 and 5 men and get our 3, 4, 5 and 6 guys in there.
“We still have a lot of work to do.”