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Runners beat weather, PRs at Pole Green

By Dave Lawrence Sports Editor

MECHANICSVILLE – The threat of foul weather hung over the field at Pole Green Park Sunday morning, and it did eventually arrive, but no matter how dreary the scene looked, plenty of runners showed up for the WERC Invitational 2020.

Three of the four races beat the rain, and plenty of runners beat themselves, not just beating their personal records, but in some cases shattering them.

“It was actually glorious up ‘til about 10:30, and then it started pouring,” said West End Run Club coach Jeremy Dobrinski. “The first two, three races were already over, and then the storm came in and [the runners] got drenched – but there were some pretty decent performances in that race as well.”

Out-of-state runners won the two “A” races. Elliott Kleckner of Newport, North Carolina, outpaced Brogan Giffin of Aldie, Virginia, for a 4-second winning margin of 15:23 in the boys “A” race. Patrick Henry student Trevor Mason was not far behind, coming in third in 15:32 for the best local finish – and beat his previous PR by 30 seconds. Mechanicsville’s Cole Lewis likewise beat his previous PR by 30 seconds, finishing eighth in 16:08.

In the girls “A” race, Anna Avila of Kensington, Maryland, won with a time of 18:58, 14 seconds ahead of runner-up Taylor Gibson of Aldie, Virginia. Mechanicsville’s Sibyl Harrell finished 19th in 21:16.

Other local runners in the boys “A” race included Luke Taylor, who finished 10th in 16:16; Ethan Coleman, who finished 15th in 16:33; Joshua Gray, who finished 17th in 16:34; and Nicholas Ligday, who finished 32nd in 18:01.

In the boys “B/C” race, Patrick Henry student Michael Leff finished fourth with a time of 18:02.

The presence of out-of-state and out-of-town runners was a benefit for the local runners, most of whom will be running cross country for their local high schools in the spring.

“Because it was a club race, they could come in from anywhere,” Dobrinsky said. “We

Another Hawk commits to D-I

By Tim Pearrell

Joel Klein for The Local

Anna Avila of Kensington, Maryland, leads at the 4 kilometer mark in the WERC Invitational 2020 at Pole Green Park Sunday. Taylor Gibson of Aldie, Virginia, follows. Avila would win the girls “A” race with time of 18:58, 14 seconds ahead of Gibson.

Richmond Times-Dispatch

see RUNNERS, pg. 22

Hanover baseball coach Tyler Kane says he’s spoiled with a group that includes seven Division I commitments. The latest is junior Anthony Gabello, a righthanded pitcher/first baseman who committed to James Madison.

Already committed from the Hawks’ junior class is Levi Huesman, a left-handed pitcher who is headed to Coastal Carolina (he’s the son of Richmond football coach Russ Huesman); Chase Hustead, a right-handed pitcher/ outfielder going to JMU; Cannon Peebles, a catcher/right-handed pitcher going to Old Dominion; Seth Keller, a right-handed pitcher/middle infielder

see HAWK, pg. 22

Continued from pg. 22

had, probably I’d say, 10 to 12 kids from either North Carolina or Maryland, come down.”

Being able to compete proved a special treat for Kleckner, the boys winner from North Carolina.

“The winter on the boys side was just getting over an iron issue, and he was just happy to get a race in,” Dobrinski said. “And he raced very well.”

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Joel Klein for The Local

Above, Mechanicsville’s Ethan Coleman leads a group of runners in middle of the pack early in the WERC Invitational 2020 at Pole Green Park Sunday. Coleman would fi nish 15th in 16:33. Left, Elliott Kleckner (144) of Newport, North Carolina, leads Brogan Giffi n of Aldie, Virginia, with about 1 kilometer left. Kleckner would hold on for the victory with time of 15:23. Top left, Griffi n (43) Aiden Nathan of Ashburn, Virginia follow the white-lined path while leading the fi eld at the 1-kilometer mark. Giffi n would fi nish second. Nathan fi nished sixth.

HAWK

Continued from pg. 21

also going to ODU; and Owen DeShazo, a middle infielder headed to Boston College. Senior Caden Plummer, a righthanded pitcher/outfielder, is going to VMI.

Gabello, who’s 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, is a two-way player whose fastball has been clocked at 93 mph and is “every bit as good offensively as he is on the mound,” Kane said.

Gabello was hitting 88 mph as a freshman in 2019 when he pitched two innings in Hanover’s Class 4, Region B championship victory over Midlothian. Teams didn’t play this past spring because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“He’s a big, physical kid,” Kane said. “He really excels in the classroom, he’s a great kid, and he’s a hard worker. He’s what every Division I program wants, a guy who’s going to be able to go in and be able to contribute right away, and he gets it done in the classroom as well.

“The crazy thing about Anthony is his birthday is in November, but he’s a year younger than everybody else.”

Tim Pearrell can be reached at tpearrell@timesdispatch.com.