Gibson wins again at Delaware's Lake Forest Invitational

Delaware State News/Jason Minto Dover High senior Charles Gibson won the Lake Forest Invitational large schools' race for the second straight year Saturday. This year, he covered the course in 16:44.

By Jason Bowen, Special to the State News

FELTON - For state cross-country runners, the Lake Forest Invitational at Killens Pond State Park is a tradition.

For the last 46 years, state harriers have traveled to Delaware's midpoint to find out how they compare with the state's top high school runners.

"When it started, it was just a handful of teams," race director Jim Blades said. "It grew to 10 or 12 and now we are approaching 40.

"It's become a big event because a lot of people enjoy the race. It's an early test of what people can do."

Caesar Rodney coach Charlie Bell agrees.

"It's a preview, you can see where you stack up." Bell said "I use it as motivation for the kids. This is the point where we step things up."

On Saturday morning, Charles Gibson started a tradition of his own. The Dover High senior captured the large schools' race for the second straight year. Gibson covered the 3.1-mile course that hosts the state championship every other year, in 16:44.

"My first cross-country race was here (as a ninth-grader)," Gibson said. "I kind of set my heart to one day winning this. Now I've done it twice."

Gibson credits Dover coach Jim Solomon with helping him develop as a runner and a person.

"He really taught me a lot about hard work," Gibson said. "But when you get out here, it's about who wants it more. He's a role model for me."

"He was outstanding," Solomon said. "He's an outstanding individual, outstanding student, family person. He has grown and deserves everything he receives."

Salesianum captured the overall team championship for the large school boys' race, while Caesar Rodney placed third and Dover sixth.

Bryon Friend and Anthony Swierglinski paced Rider runners. Friend placed ninth (17:50), while Swierglinski was 15th (18:06.)

A temperature in the mid-80s and high humidity may have contributed to some slower times this year.

"I'm pleased with the times," Bell said. "We did a little better (in a meet) Wednesday but we didn't have the heat factor. I noticed some other times were off also."

Padua captured the team title in the girls' large schools' race, while Dover was fifth and Caesar Rodney sixth.

Jess Leitsch of Brandywine was the top female runner with a time of 19:19.

Liz Paul of Caesar Rodney carded the best Downstate girls' time at 20:52 to finish ninth overall.

In the small schools' races, Seaford was the leader among Downstate teams. The Blue Jay boys finished in fourth behind winner Archmere, while the girls placed fifth behind state power Tatnall.

Kyle Kershner of Tatnall earned top honors with a time of 16:31, while Lisa Klein (19:29), also of Tatnall, won the girls' race.

Andrew Rogan of Cape Henlopen posted the fastest time (18:06) among Downstate small-school boys to place 12th, while Nick Stubbolo (18:15) of St. Thomas More was 13th.

Brian Lloyd (15th), Kyle Morgan (19th) and Andrew Perciful (22nd) keyed the Seaford boys' fourth-place finish.

Seaford's Caitlin McGroerty posted a 12th-place finish to pace Downstate girls in the race.

The Cape Henlopen teams also posted a strong showing by finishing seventh in both the boys' and girls' events. Smyrna, ninth, also broke into the top 10.

In the Holly Hrupsa Memorial, a 2.1 mile race for middle-schoolers, Megan Northshield of Fifer placed second in the girls race with a time of 14:32. Alex Clapp (seventh - 15:19) and Abbey Moser (10th - 15:43) of Holy Cross also finished in the top 10.

Kwasi Platt (13:42) and Jonathon Abbott (13:44) finished fifth and sixth, respectively in the boys' race.