Ventures Open Season With Strong Showing Under the Lights at Ford Field

LIVONIA, Mich. - Bishop Foley Catholic opened its boys cross country season with a strong late-night effort Friday at Ford Field, led by a team-best personal record of 20 minutes, 18.8 seconds. Finnegan McGlinchey placed 85th among 226 runners, while Gavin Samona followed as the Ventures’ second finisher in 146th place.

The Ventures competed in flight one, which began at 9:20 p.m. under light rain and a temperature of 74 degrees. The unusual nighttime start provided a different setting for the opening race, but Bishop Foley established its early-season benchmarks with each runner recording a season-best time.

The 20:18.8 performance at the front of the Bishop Foley group marked a personal best and gave the Ventures a steady lead runner in a large field. Samona, a sophomore, crossed next for the team in 21:42.4. Their finishes gave Bishop Foley two runners across the line within 1:24 of each other and set the pace for the rest of the lineup.

The race also marked the beginning of varsity cross country careers for Anderson Farhat and Otis Pogodzinski. Anderson Farhat, a freshman, completed the course in 28:40.9, while Farhat, a sophomore, finished his debut in 25:00.7. Their first races added valuable experience to a young Ventures roster.

Senior Jeremy Slotnick, the only senior on the Bishop Foley boys team, completed the final season-opening race of his high school career in 29:47.8. With a personal record at the front, two top-150 finishes and two runners completing their first career races, the Ventures left Ford Field with a full set of opening marks to build on as the season continues. The next race for the boys will be on Thursday, August 27th. That is the 16th Northville Mustang Invite, which will be at Cass Benton Park, Michigan. Be there if you can to support.