Alvelo wins race, Eagles take third at Olentangy Berlin Bear Den Dash

Senior Jose Alvelo won the first race of his cross country career Saturday, leading the Avon boys cross country team to a third-place finish in the Double Blue Division of the Bear Den Dash at Olentangy Berlin High School. Known more for his exploits as an 800-meter runner in track, Alvelo dominated the race, crossing the finish line in 16 minutes, 3.58 seconds and winning by nearly 23 seconds over the 5,000-meter course. The winning time was a personal record for Alvelo, whose previous best was 16:22.0, which he ran in the first meet of the season at Centerville. The Eagles scored 127 points as a team, finishing behind Mount Gilead with 53 and Columbus Bishop Watterson with 110. Watterson is ranked 12th in the state in Division II in the latest state coaches poll, and Mount Gilead is ranked No. 4 in Division III, having won the state title last year and having placed either first or second in the state in five of the past six years. Following Alvelo to the finish line were Jared Keressi (17th in a PR 17:10.99), Owen Burns (22nd in 17:23.42), Dominic Gallo (40th in a PR 17:52.41), Anthony Danicki (47th in a PR 18:00.95), Matthew Lochbihler (51st in a season’s best 18:07.04) and Blaise Wieber (52nd in 18:08.43). The Eagles will be competing in the Milt Place Distance Festival October 4 in Medina.