Ethan McClory wins Norm Bray CC Invite, leads boys to 2nd place finish

FREMONT – Ethan McClory spent the last two cross country seasons running behind teammate Matt Kuyken. With Kuyken now graduated and running at Malone University, the Fremont Ross boys cross country team is now McClory’s team.

Ethan McClory

And he put his stamp on the program Saturday morning.

McClory became the first Fremont Ross runner since Stacy Hall in 2002 to cross the finish line first at the Little Giants’ own Norm Bray Invitational and the first male runner to do so since Jeremiah Smith in 1996.

McClory clocked a personal-best time on Ross’ home course, cross the finish line in 16 minutes, 36 seconds, 12 second ahead of his previous-best time.

“My coaches told me I should win,” McClory said. “They said I should get first, so I went in that that mindset to get first. I’ve been close. The last two years I got fifth and just a couple paces off, so they had a hunch this was my chance to get and win.”

McClory raced out to the top of the pack, began the second lap of the course in a lead group with two other runners but then took the lead by himself in the third lap.

“But the other dude that was next to me would pass me the fall behind and then pass me,” McClory said. “So I was kind of nervous that that would happen again, so when it was just me on the last lap, I always had the sense that someone was behind me, even if no one is behind me, and it makes me want to go faster. In my head, when I’m running I always think, ‘What if he passes me on the last straight-away?’”

McClory needn’t have worried me. His closest competitor was nearly 20 seconds behind and McClory could enjoy the final moments leading to his first career victory.

“It feels good. I’ve never gotten first in a cross race before. This is my first win and it feels great.”

McKela Elder

Head cross country coach John Elder wasn’t surprised when he saw McClory make the turn out of the woods and into the final straightaway all by himself.

“Because he can. It’s Ethan’s time to be No. 1,” Elder said. “He’s been No. 2 the last two years, now he’s the No. 1 runner and that’s because he’s good enough.”

McClory, however, wasn’t the only Little Giant to have a good day. Ross finished second as a team out of the 14-team field.

Zach Edmonds came in 12th in 17:41; Brayden Darr was 15th in 17:50; Jayden Scott crossed the finish line 24th overall in 18:07 and Noah Egbert rounded out the scoring by finishing 51^st with a time of 19:20.

Elder said running last week in the OHSAA preseason race gave the Little Giant a nice boost to start the season.

“This is our only home meet and we always seem to run OK, but next week we run great,” he said. “(Assistant coach) Mark (Sheidler) was like, ‘Let’s go to the preseason state meet, run that course, that give us one meet under our belt so then this week it’s like the week after Norm Bray.’ And it looks like it worked.”

The girls race also saw a Ross runner at the top of the results sheet.

Junior McKela Elder finished fourth overall – and first from any school other than Notre Dame Academy – finishing with a time of 20:22.

Elder did not run last week due to illness and is still battling a cough and congestion issues.

“I wasn’t expecting great results but was hoping for something ok,” she said. “Running in the 20s for the first race, I think is pretty good. I’m hoping all season to be in the 19s, so it’s a little disappointing but hopefully my next race will be better.”

John Elder, no relation, was pleased with McKela’s performance, given her less-than ideal health status.

“She did great,” he said. “She didn’t run last week with a nice summer cold and she’s still hacking up a lung. She ran really well. Notre Dame always has really good girls. I think she can run with them as time goes on.”

Ross finished sixth out of 12 teams. Freshman Allison Taylor was the second Lady Giant to finish, coming in at 28th with a time of 22:56. Grace Egbert finish 53rd in 24:55, AnneMarie Moses finished 69th in 25:34 and MeKenna Englund was 89th with a time of 26:27.

“We’re banged up on the girls side, we’re missing at least three today due to injury,” John Elder said.

The cross country teams return to action Saturday morning at the Mel Brodt Invite.

Boys Results

Team: Fremont Ross, second place (97 points) out of 14 teams

Individual times:

Ethan McClory, first place, 16:36

Zach Edmonds, 12th place, 17:41

Brayden Darr, 15th place, 17:50

Jayden Scott, 24th place, 18:07

Noah Egbert, 51st place, 19:20

Ivan Starkweather, 54th place, 19:22

Evan Starkweather, 55th place, 19:22