Submitted Photo Fredonia’s Ashlyn Ambrose placed sixth in the cross country meet at Lake Erie State Park on Tuesday.

OBSERVER Staff Report

Fredonia’s Emily Brown stole the show for the top girls cross country athletes in the area, taking first place in the Lake Erie State Park cross country meet between Dunkirk, Fredonia, Silver Creek and Cattaraugus/Little Valley on Tuesday. For the boys, it was Dunkirk’s Anthony Ruiz who took home the best time of the day, followed closely by Fredonia’s Diego Rey.

Brown had the top time for the girls with a finish of 20:51 on Tuesday in Fredonia’s only home meet of the season on a muddy course. Silver Creek’s Ellie Decker was not far behind, as her time of 21:33 placed her second at the meet. Jericha Petrella of Dunkirk finished third among the girls with a time of 22:02. Juliana Flick of Silver Creek finished fourth in 22:24, Daisy League of Silver Creek finished in fifth with a time of 22:47, while Fredonia’s Ashlyn Ambrose took sixth in 22:50. Second among the Dunkirk girls was Sierra Jacques in 10th.

Silver Creek took home the victory in the girls race, with a score of 30. Fredonia was not far behind in second at 35, while Dunkirk was incomplete.

“Emily (Brown) ran a smart race,” said Fredonia coach Carol Zirkle. “She’s such a strong competitor. She doesn’t let the weather get to her. … I also thought Ashlyn Ambrose ran a really good race.”

Dunkirk coach Adam Woelfle also believed the weather was a difficult obstacle to overcome, stating, “It was a wet and sloppy course, so unfortunately times weren’t as fast as the kids were hoping for, but they ran tough and pushed hard through the conditions.”

For Dunkirk, however, Ruiz was the bright spot of the day.

“The boys race was the highlight, and a result four years in the making,” said Woelfle.

Ruiz edged out Fredonia’s Diego Rey’s 18:18 time with a meet-high 17:43 mark. Zirkle acknowledged the friendly rivalry between the two competitors, but admitted, “Anthony ran a great race.”

Dunkirk’s boys won the meet with a score of 29, while Fredonia was second with 34. Silver Creek was incomplete.

Woelfle said, “This is the first time in a long time that we have had the victory over Fredonia in cross country, and those boys were so excited to finally do it.”

Dunkirk and Fredonia will both compete again next week, as the Marauders host a meet at Point Gratiot, while Fredonia heads to Long Point State Park. Both meets take place on Tuesday.