ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- The Pirates are back on track. And in the field. And winning events on both.

Rocky River opened its 2022 season with a Great Lakes Conference sweep over Lakewood Wednesday. The Pirate boys won 109-28. The girls were victorious by a final tally of 92-42.

River won 15 events on the boys side. Sophomore Grant Preto won the long jump and the 800-meter run and was a part of two first-place relays (4x800, 4x400). Sophomore Owen Kleckner clocked victories in both hurdles events (110, 300) and was in on the 4x4 triumph. Junior Luke Dorenkott won the 400-meter dash and was in for a quarter of the action on the 4x8. Senior Hogan Kern won the 100 and was a part of River's third winning relay, the 4x100. The boys team (1-0, 1-0 GLC) hit 23 personal bests in the meet at Rocky River Stadium.

The Double-R girls won 12 events. The Pirates swept all three relays. Relay members winning elsewhere included senior Sam Coleman (4x8, 800, 4x4), sophomore Keira Arnold (4x8, 4x4), freshman Katie Stirm (4x4, 1600), senior Caroline Sidoti (4x1, high jump), and senior Morgyn Cruz (4x1, long jump). Sophomore Maeve Kelly took first in the 300 hurdles and pole vault. River swept gold, silver, and bronze in two events, the 100-meter hurdles and the 1600.

The five-time defending GLC champs -- on both sides -- will continue their season Saturday at the Avon Lake Invitational.



CANNON FIRE ...

OLD GOLD: Returning 2021 GLC individual champions on this year's roster include Owen Kleckner (100-meter hurdles) and senior Adam Maroon (discus) for the boys team and Sam Coleman (800, 1600, 3200) and Maeve Kelly (300 hurdles) for the girls squad. Rocky River is scheduled to host this year's GLC meet in May.




by  Skip Snow

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