Kirtland’s Reilly Greenlee on Saturday became the third straight Hornet to win the MVP Award at the Cuyahoga Heights Relays.
Julie Namciu won the award in 2021 and Jenna Sayle took it home in 2019. The event was not held in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.
“I was so excited to receive that award,” Greenlee said. “Coach (J.P.) Moran told me going into my last race that he was going to nominate me because I had three first-place finishes, so I was really just happy finishing off my last mile knowing I could possibly win that. Julie won last year and Jenna a couple of years before, so I’m really proud that I was recognized just like those girls who I’ve looked up to my whole high school career.”
Greenlee led the Hornets to wins in the 4×1600-meter relay (26:08.70), 4×800 (11:05.39), and the 4×100 shuttle hurdle relay (1:18.20), and she ran the mile to lead the distance medley team to second place (10:55.43).
“I think my best was probably the 4×800, even though it wasn’t my fastest race and my legs were way tired from the mile I just ran, but it was a really close race and Sylvia (Vosicky) secured our first-place finish at the very end so it was really awesome,” Greenlee said. “The shuttle hurdles was probably the most fun race I did though because it was different and something new besides the one time I did it last year. I got to run with girls I don’t usually get to and just had a blast doing it and still would have if we didn’t win.”
Brynn Bradac, Delaney Kuczkowski, and Ainslee Borthwick teamed up with Greenlee in the 4×1600 while Borthwick, Kuczkowski, and Vosicky ran the 4×800. Maria Alfieri, Sophia DeMarco, and Ava Golem ran with Greenlee in the shuttle hurdle relay, and DeMarco, Kuczkowski, and Vosicky were Greenlee’s partners in the distance medley.
“I’m really satisfied with my performance,” Greenlee said. “My times weren’t my fastest, but I ran over 2 1/2 miles, had a lot of fun, won some races, and came out with MVP, so I’m really proud of that.”
Kirtland’s girls’ team finished in second place, just six points behind team champion Independence.
Vosicky, DeMarco, Elise Beinhardt, and Macy McIntosh finished third in the 4×400-meter relay (4:44.43) and Beinhardt, McIntosh, Alyssa Bryll, and Elin Connor took home third in the 4×200-meter relay (1:55.36).
Bryll, Connor, McIntosh, and Vosicky placed fourth in the 800-meter sprint medley relay (2:00.89) and Beinhardt, Bryll, Connor, and McIntosh were fourth in the 4×100 (55.65).
Golem also placed sixth in the high jump (4-4) and eighth in the long jump (13-4 ¼). DeMarco was eighth in the pole vault (5-0).
Chloe Hansen placed in both the discus (5th, 74-8) and shot put (6th, 26-6), and Chloe Ungrady was sixth in the discus (72-8). Olivia Dolovacky placed seventh in the long jump (13-6 ¼).
Will Sayle had a big day in the boys’ relays.
Sayle placed second in the long jump (17-9) and led two relay teams to runner-up finishes and another to a third-place finish.
Despite his success, Sayle felt he could have improved upon his performance.
“I feel like I could’ve done better,” he said. “The key to success was the preparation from the famous head coach, Greg Sayle. I was not very pleased with my mark (in the long jump) because I faulted three out of four times.”
Sayle teamed up with Philip LaVerde, Scotty Haymer, and Warren Eveland to finish the 4×200-meter relay in second place with a time of 1:37.07.
“Me and the dawgs had an incredible 4×2 relay race,” Sayle said. “The performance of me, Scott, Phil Man, and Wardog was incredible.”
Sayle, Eveland, Brigham Weight, and Austin Leland were second in the 4×800 (9:24.80) and also placed third in the 4×400 (3:59.54).
Haymer also placed eighth in the long jump (17-1) and Greg Ihnat was fifth in the shot put (40-9).
LaVerde, Haymer, Eveland, and Will Bradshaw finished the 4×100 in the seventh place with a time of 47.59, and LaVerde, Haymer, Bradshaw, and Drew Duncan placed eighth in the 800-meter spring medley (1:55.83).
