Watterson/Whetstone Alumni 5km Cross Country Run

(by Matt McGowan) The overall winner in the third annual Watterson/Whetstone Alumni Cross Country and Track 5km was Eddie Erion (18:13), a 2008 graduate of Whetstone, who was All-City League as a senior in cross country while also competing on the track team. Erion led from the start holding off a late charge from 2003 Bishop Watterson graduate Nicole (Gliem) Fisher (18:24), last year’s winner. In December, Nicole competed on the RUNOHIO/Second Sole team, (a post collegiate club coordinated by Bishop Watterson teacher and coach Matt McGowan), which won the USATF Club National Cross Country Championships. Nicole continues to run for the RUNOHIO club.

Runner-up on the women’s side was 2008 Watterson graduate Hannah Skrobot, a 4-time All-CCL selection in Cross Country. 2004 Whetstone graduate Bridget Kuhel, who went onto run for the University of Dayton in Cross Country and Track, was the top female representing Whetstone. The leaders among current runners for both schools were Watterson senior Elise Fiala and Whetstone senior Jane Turner.

On the men’s side, Watterson sophomore Matt Richardson, competing in his first ever cross country race, finished as the runner-up. 2004 Watterson graduate Mike Vulanich, a recent graduate of Xavier University, finished third.

Other notable finishers included the top parents in the race, Bishop Watterson parent Barry Dew and Whetstone parent Rick Rammon, both residents of Clintonville.

After the race, it was announced that next year’s race will be held on July 25, 2009. Special thanks goes to Whetstone and Watterson Cross Country and Track Coaches for their efforts in making this race possible. The coaching staffs also wish to acknowledge and wish good luck to Whetstone Coach John Coffman, who will be moving to Florida with his wife Sacha next month.

Complete results and photos can be found at:

http://www.runohio.com/results

http://www.runohio.com/show/galleries