Slicers Take 1st in Both Girls and Boys Individual Races at Bob Thomas Invitational

The weather was a welcome change for the Bob Thomas Invitational this past Saturday. Most teams had to run in blistering temperatures the week prior to todays race. Nineteen teams were competing in the Boys Varsity Race with the gun set to go off at 9:00. Teams from LaPorte, Hobart, Munster, Lowell, Portage, Merrillville, KV, Lake Central were out for the event just to name, a few making the trip to bring home a victory in Lowell this weekend.

The boys ran a solid race with runners Brian Blaylock, Ryan Kritzer, Anthony Didion, and Tom Bolanowski taking an early lead in the event. Winding their way through the 5k course the first to come in sight at the finish line was LaPorte’s Anthony Didion. Didion crossed the finish line with a time of 15:41. Shortly after Didion left the race to attend a college visit.

Seniors Ryan Kritzer and Tom Bolanowski both run for Munster, coming in 3rd and 4th at today’s Invitational. Kritzer stated, “I started out with the pack and then fell into my pace, I tried to run a steady pace for the most part.” Both were happy about the Munster Victory. Following them taking the second place spot was Lake Central then LaPorte, Portage and Hobart.

Seniors Brent Dunn and Alek Seeley were 1 and 2 for Hobart. Dunn said, “I went out with the lead group and stayed with them throughout the race. I tried to finish hard to pull ahead.”

On the girls side the crowd was able to witness a new course record. Senior Elena Lancioni from the Slicers ran a solid race, breaking her previous course record at Lowell and setting the new bar at 18:09.

Lancioni said, “ I was just coming into the race to run solid with New Prairie is coming up Saturday, I felt pretty good and relaxed and I’m happy with the race.” Not only did she get a victory herself, but the girls team did as well, followed by Portage, Lake Central and Hobart.

Hobart’s Celena Guerrero and Mindy Whidden came in second and fourth for the Brickies after having just run the course this past Thursday where the results were flipped and Whidden came in ahead of Guerrero. Don’t really know with those two who is going to be ahead of whom in a race these days! New Prairie Invitation is coming up this coming Saturday. Teams will be competing on the same course that will host the areas Semi- State meet in October.