MIDDLEFIELD—Runners at the 2017 Cardinal Invitational on Saturday were greeted with temperatures normally reserved for the Dog Days of Summer.
For Kirtland senior Sydney Snyder, the heat was the least of her problems.
Shortly after the race began, another runner accidentally stepped on the back of Snyder’s cleat, leaving her with just one option.
“I was like, ‘You know what, just get rid of it and tough it out the rest of the three miles,’” said Snyder, who went on to finish 13th with a time of 21:50.
Snyder’s father retrieved the shoe but she wasn’t about to lose any more time.
“He was like, ‘Do you want your shoe?’” Snyder said. “I said, ‘I can’t put it back on yet.’”
Sophomore Lauren Snyder finished two places behind her sister with a time of 22:08 and freshman Julie Namciu also finished among the top 30 with a time of 23:28, good for 28th place.
Junior Ellie David, freshman Mateja Mrva, junior Emily Crebs, sophomore Jordan Jontz, freshman Aimee Baldrey and junior Zoe Gregory all set new personal records at the meet.
David finished 31st in 23:44 while Mrva, Crebs, Jontz and Baldrey filled the next four spots. Mrva ran a 23:46, Crebs finished in 23:50, Jontz clocked a time of 23:55 and Baldrey came in at 24:14.
“We had our number three through seven girls all within 25 seconds of each other,” said Kirtland coach JP Moran. “It was a real nice pack and our top seven all were under 24 minutes; that’s a first. We also had eight girls come through the one-mile in the six-minute range.”
Senior Holly Samf (25:16) and junior Andrea Frankel (26:20) also competed.
Juniors Konnor Duncan, Jake Grdadolnik and Kirk Brauer and sophomore Drew Schneider all set PRs in the boys’ race.
Duncan finished 16th overall with a time of 18:16 while Grdadolnik was 26th in 18:38. Brauer ran a time of 23:15 while Schneider finished in 21:15.
Senior Colton Zanko (19:38), freshman Ian McGreal (20:48), junior Nick Briggs (21:15) and sophomore Jeff Kusar (29:59) also ran for the Hornets.
