Brajdic again claims Division II title with an all-division Scioto Downs record. Woodridge's Div. II team title is its 5th straight. Medina second by one point in Div. I.
Michael Brajdic, Bay's record-setting cross country runner.By Tim Warsinskey, Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus, Ohio -- Pardon Northeast Ohio while it continues to repeat itself.
Bay senior Michael Brajdic, Woodridge and Independence repeated as boys champions at the state cross country meet Saturday at Scioto Downs.
Medina finished second to Louisville, 125-126, in the closest Division I team race in 23 years.
Brajdic won his second straight Division II title while setting an all-division course record, 15:01.9. His winning margin was 20 seconds and he broke the 23-year-old record, set by Bob Kennedy, by 1.3 seconds.
Woodridge won its fifth straight title in Division II, and is just the second school to win more than four consecutive boys walnut and gold trophies. The Bulldogs beat runner-up St. Vincent-St. Mary, 48-69. Avon, making its first trip to the state meet, was third with 87 points and Elyria Catholic placed fourth (90). Woodridge's Vibushan Sivakumaran placed seventh overall.
Independence defended its Division III state title, 85-94, over No. 1-ranked McDonald. Delta placed third, followed by Trinity and Berkshire. Independence junior Ryan Polman, last year's individual champion, was the Blue Devils' highest finisher in fifth place.
In Division I, led by John Sweeney in fifth place, defending team champion St. Ignatius took third.