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Franjoine, Stechenfinger finish well in season-opening cross country meet
 | | GAINING ON HIM... Depew seventh grader Joe Franjoine is trailed by Lady Wildcats' eighth grader Gina Lewandowski Tuesday. (Times photo) |
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Depew freshman Angela Franjoine and John F. Kennedy junior Jessica Stechenfinger shined the brightest on a sunny day Tuesday at the season-opening Erie County Interscholastic Conference IV meet at JFK High School.
Stechenfinger's Lady Bears won the event, beating the Lady Wildcats, 24-33, and Maryvale, 15-45. Stechenfinger, who has qualified for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association competition the last two seasons, finished second with a time of 22 minutes, 15 seconds.
Franjoine, who Depew head coach Teresa O'Connor said has made tremendous strides this season as a freshman, was the top female runner with a time of 21:47.
The Lady Wildcats defeated local opponent Maryvale, 23-32.
Frajoine and sophomore teammate Taylor Schrimmel have been a revelation for Depew this fall, as both placed among the top 10 Division II runners in last weekend's Western New York Officials Invitational at Beaver Island State Park. Franjoine finished fifth (22:05), while Schrimmel placed 10th (22:57). Franjoine also won the Don Hall Invitational at Maryvale last week, outlasting approximately 50 total runners, while Schrimmel finished fourth.
 | | IN STRIDE...Maryvale freshman Allen Kryszak runs stridefor stride behind Depew sophomore Scott Mazurkiewicz Tuesday at JFK High School. (Times photo) |
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"They're both delightful and full of surprises," O'Connor said of Franjoine and Schrimmel. "Considering Taylor is a first-year runner and isn't used to three-mile running, she's done a nice job. Angela had a very nice eighth grade season and is developing very quickly this fall."
Maryvale senior Whitney Beamon was the Lady Flyers' top finisher Tuesday with a time of 27:41.7. However, teammate and eighth grader Kelly Damian, who finished 10th at the Don Hall Invitational, has been the team's top runner so far this fall, according to Lady Flyers' head coach Jill Maskulinski.
"She may be little but she has fast turnover," Maskulinski said of Damian. "I can't wait to watch her develop over the season."
Maskulinski also listed senior Kylie Reach as an impact runner on her squad.
On the boys' side, Depew defeated both JFK (15-50) and Maryvale (15- 50) Tuesday, although Bears' junior Jeff Lelonek was the top overall runner with a time of 20:08.
Junior Alex Schmitt was the Wildcats' fastest finisher at 20:14, while Maryvale sophomore Tyler Demartine led his team with a time of 20:58.7.
Maskulinski listed Demartine (35th overall at Don Hall Invitational) and freshman Allen Kryszak (38th at Don Hall) as the Flyers' top male runners.
JFK travels downstate this weekend for the Warwick Valley Cross Country Mania meet, while Maryvale returns to action October 3 at 4:30 p.m. at Cleveland Hill to take on the Eagles and Tonawanda. Depew will participate in the McQuaid Invitational Saturday.
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