Ventures Put Two in Top 60 at Hilly Cass Benton Park Meet

The Bishop Foley Catholic boys cross country team placed two runners in the top 60 and recorded two season-best performances Thursday morning at Cass Benton Park. Finnegan McGlinchey led the Ventures by finishing 38th among 124 runners, while Gavin Samona followed in 57th on a dry, hilly course.

Finnegan McGlinchey completed the race in 19 minutes, 51.6 seconds, setting a personal best while navigating the course’s repeated climbs. The sub-20-minute performance established the front of Bishop Foley’s lineup and gave the Ventures their highest individual finish of the meet.

Gavin Samona crossed the finish line in 20:49.9, a season best. The two front-runners finished 58.3 seconds apart, forming Bishop Foley’s lead pairing and giving the team two finishers in the upper half of a large field. Their results were especially significant on a course that required runners to manage their effort over numerous hills while maintaining pace on firm, dry ground.

Bishop Foley also received completed races from Otis Pogodzinski and Jeremy Slotnick. Otis Pogodzinski finished in 25:45.0, adding depth behind the Ventures’ leading pair. Jeremy Slotnick posted a season-best time of 29:18.7, providing the team with another measurable step forward early in the schedule.

Clear skies and a temperature of 71 degrees greeted the runners for the 10 a.m. start. With four recorded finishes, a personal best and two season-best marks, the Ventures left Cass Benton Park with concrete progress to build on as the season continues. The Ventures next meet is The Golden Grizzlies Invitational on Friday, September 4th at Oakland University. Please come support the team if you can.