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Heading to Ona

Girod, Quattrochi to run at state cross country championships

ONA — Two local runners will be competing at the West Virginia cross country meet on Saturday. Cole Girod of Weir High and Madonna’s Angelo Quattrochi will run at the meet to be held in Ona.

“Cole had an amazing season,” said Weir cross country coach Jeff Lewis. “His accomplishments are a direct result of his work ethic. I am honored to be his coach and can’t wait to see him rub shoulders with the best of the best at the state meet.”

Girod is a junior and this is just his second season running cross country. He cites his daily runs through downtown Weirton for his success this year.

“I have improved all season long,” Girod said. “It has taken hard work and determination. I have been practicing for the state meet by training with my team.”

Girod and the other Red Riders, Tyler Virtue, Andrew Speirs, Trey Elbon, Spencer Vida and Joey Cowher, came in second place at the Brooke Invitational in September. Girod said that was one of his best personal performances of the season. It was also a high mark for his team, as a whole.

“My favorite part of cross country this season was receiving a team trophy at the Brooke meet,” Girod said. “We all worked really hard for that.”

Girod’s goal for the state meet include placing in the top 10 and breaking the 17-minute mark.

Quattrochi, a freshman, helped Madonna in its first cross country season in more than a decade. He won the Oak Glen Invitational in September and cracked the 18-minute mark at the regional meet.

“I just wanted to get my time under 18 minutes,” Quattrochi said. “I ended up running 17:40. The regional race was just a pure guts race and I gave it all I had. I try to motivate everyone at practice to do their best and I feel like I have improved.

“I have learned how to pace myself, persevere and develop a better work ethic. For the state meet, I have been preparing myself by doing long distance runs and hill sprints.”

Quattrochi just hopes to enjoy and learn from the experience on Saturday, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be giving it his all.

“Knowing Angelo, he has a great drive to win,” said Madonna coach Jeremy Eloi. “He won’t back down and he is going to do whatever it takes to get a good time down there.”

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