11/3 States:1st\'s & B2B:C. Cambria, Emmaus, North East, N. Penn|Seymour, Spence, Beveridge, Dennin

 

A day of firsts for Central Cambria, Emmaus, North Penn and a day of repeats for Carly Seymour, Neely Spence, Boyertown and North East

It was a day that went of form in many ways, but in others, it was a big surprise. The day of firsts included team championships for the girls of Central Cambria in AA, Emmaus in AAA, and the boys of North Penn in AAA. AA North East boys captured their 9th between the boys and girls. In the individual races, Carly Seymour led her championship team with one point and a monster 17:49 for her 2nd state XC title. Shippensburg's Neely Spence took off at 3K to repeat. Joe Beveridge, Bishop McDevitt, captured the AA crown, and Mark Dennin gave Boyertown their second state title in a row in AAA after Jason Weller won in 2006. Favorite Vince McNally of Conestoga Valley simply had a bad day. See Side Note below.

CLICK BELOW FOR POST-RACE FEATURES, VIDEO INTERVIEWS,
PHOTO GALLERY AND RACE VIDEOS

Post-Race Features
Central Cambria won a title.
But they took home so much more.

Coatesville doesn't rebuild. They reload. 

Cross country rings true in Wellsboro.

Experienced coach, expert spotters,
and soccer lead North East to 9th state title.

 

Video Interviews:
Neely Spence
| Mark Dennin | Chris Aldrich | Emmaus 

Photo Gallery by Don Rich, Tim O'Dowd & Megan Clugh
from nine spots on the course for each race - over 2000 pix

Race Videos by Aaron Rich:
AA Girls | AA Boys | AAA Girls | AAA Boys
 

Click here for Weekend Newspaper Coverage from around PA

Note from PIAA and RunHigh.com.
Posted results replace any and all preliminary results that were
posted or distributed at the meet. Top 25 medalists and team awards
were correct as presented in Hershey.

 

By Kimberly Jaick Soden

Saturday was an exciting day in Pennsylvania cross country action with All- Americans Carly Seymour and Neely Spence leading the way and the Emmaus girls cross country team finally getting its chance to prove it really is the best team in the state.
Here's some highlights from each of the races:

 Central Cambria, AA State Champions - Photo by Brian Wright


 

AA Girls Top Fives
Central Cambria 53
Elk Lake 175
Lewisburg 198
Union City 209
West Middlesex 215

Carly Seymour, Central Cambria 17:49
Kacey Gibson, Neshannock 18:29
Kara Millhouse, Boiling Springs 18:50
Lauren Zarger, Harbor Creek 18:52
Casey Miller, Lewisburg 18:55

ALTOONA MIRROR
Seymour wins race by 40 seconds

 
CARLISLE EVENING SENTINEL
Millhouse takes bronze in Hershey
 
CARLISLE EVENING SENTINEL 
Trinity, CV teams fare well
 
JOHNSTOWN TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT
Carly and Central Cambria cruise to title
 
JOHNSTOWN TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT
Medals abound for local stars
 
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
PIAA Cross Country: WPIAL runners slip in finals at Hershey
2006 girls' champ from Neshannock finishes second in AA
 
SCRANTON TIMES-TRIBUNE
Team effort gives Elk Lake the silver
 

By Kimberly Jaick Soden

Girls AA:
Carly Seymour, a Central Cambria senior and the 2005 champion, led from the start to clock the fastest girls time of the day over Hershey Parkview Golf Course's hilly 3.1-mile course, finishing up in 17:49, well ahead of defending champ Kacey Gibson of Neshannock, who ran 18:29. Seymour's victory also led her squad to its first team title.

 

Carly Seymour looks for the finish in her run-away state title race, setting the course record at 17:49.

"It feels awesome," Seymour said. "It was one of those things that once I lost [the title] it was like getting my identity back. My strategy was to go the first mile and a half with Kacey, but when I went out it was going really easily and I just went with it. If I hadn't won I would've been just as excited about the team and being able to share this with them."

Seymour's teammates certainly enjoyed tasting gold for the first time. "It's been a goal of our's all year," said freshman Emily Wright, who was fifth for the team. No. 2 runner Annie Cekada (in photo with Seymour sisters Kendall and Kelsey - photo by Timothy O'Dowd) added, "We just stuck together as a team." Rounding out the scorers for Central Cambria were Seymour's little sisters, No. 3 runner Kelsey, a sophomore, and Kendall, a freshman. "We did this for Carly," Kelsey said through a few tears of joy shortly after the race. Freshman Ashley Stump and sophomore Morgan Eckenrod completed the team.

Girls AAA Girls Top Fives
Emmaus 78
Northern York 147
Unionville 154
Cumberland Valley 215
Strath Haven 222

Neely Spence, Shippensburg 18:14
Jess Cygan, Liberty 18:39
Carly Hamond, Henderson, 18:45
Natalie Bower, Latrrobe, 18:52
Megan Lutz, Nazareth Academy, 18:55

ALLENTOWN MORNING CALL
Emmaus runs away with state title

CARLISLE EVENING SENTINEL
Twice is nice for Spence 
 
CARLISLE EVENING SENTINEL 
Trinity, CV teams fare well
 
CHAMBERSBURG PUBLIC OPINION 
Neely Spence captures PIAA gold again
 
HARRISBURG PATRIOT-NEWS
Rerun: Shippensburg's Spence repeats as AAA champion

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
PIAA Cross Country: WPIAL runners slip in finals at Hershey
2006 girls' champ from Neshannock finishes second in AA

By Kimberly Jaick Soden

Girls AAA: Shippensburg's Neely Spence (in photo by Timothy O'Dowd, Irishrunner.com) had planned to try to one-up whatever time Seymour ran on Saturday, but a fall virus had other ideas. Instead the senior settled for earning her second-straight state title.

"I've been sick all week," Spence said. "I had a sore throat at districts. I've been really resting all week. I didn't want to get in trouble out there. Last year's strategy was to go right before two miles, so that's what I did. I'm pleased with how it went. I'm very excited about this because now I'm the first Ship athlete to ever win consecutive state titles."

Spence ran 18:14 to out-distance runner-up Jess Cygan, a Liberty freshman who finished in 18:29.

No. 1-ranked Emmaus lived up to its hype by easily winning the team title with 78 points over runner-up Northern York's 147 points.

"Over the last week or so I found 1000 different ways not to be the champs," said coach Dan Wessner, "but I never told them about one of them. "It's a relief, but it's great to be state champs. I give it to the whole five of them because they've been right with each other the whole season."

Medallists Lindsey Graybill (15th), a junior, and Amanda Faust (19th), a sophomore, led the way. Faust makes up part of the Faust triplets and sisters Christina and Brianna ran third and fifth, respectively, for the team. Junior Melissa Meade was the No. 4 runner.

"We just tried to work together," Brianna Faust said. "Melissa and I were saying 'let's stay together.' We're just really ecstatic right now because it wasn't on paper until now."

Meade added, "We wanted it more than anyone." 

Side Notes: It was the final cross country race for three-year state medalist Chanelle Price of Easton. "This was it," Price said. The star 800 meter athlete was nudged into the event as a sophomore to improve her strength for the brutal final 200 meters of the two-lapper. "It was worth it," Price said after receiving her third medal, "but I'm only going to miss being with my team."

Cross country teams respect performance - and this year's class of AAA girls are no exception as 2007 champs Emmaus and runner-up Northern York remember the day in a photo by Cherie Ramsey.


 

Terence Lee, #947, at 1.5 miles with eventual winner Joe Beveridge,
#727 (photo by Timothy O'Dowd, Irishrunner.com)

 

Boys AA Boys Top Fives
North East 83
General McLane 151
Scranton Prep 192
West Middlesex 219
Quaker Valley 219 on tie-breaker

Joe Beveridge, Bishop McDevitt 16:31
Terrence Lee, Engineering & Science 16:39
Alfredo Santana, Neuva Charter 16:43
Jonathan McElwain, Riverside 16:43
Jim Spisak, Bishop McCort, 16:49

CARLISLE EVENING SENTINEL 
Trinity, CV teams fare well

HARRISBURG PATRIOT-NEWS
Beveridge basks in state title

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
PIAA Cross Country: WPIAL runners slip in finals at Hershey
2006 girls' champ from Neshannock finishes second in AA
 
SCRANTON TIMES-TRIBUNE
Strong effort puts Scranton Prep in third place 

By Kimberly Jaick Soden

Boys AA: Joe Beveridge (#727 in Timothy O'Dowd photo) wasn't too happy with his 21st place finish at last year's meet. So the Bishop McDevitt (District 3) junior eclipsed it by capturing this fall's state championship. Beveridge ran 16:32 to better runner-up Terrence Lee of Engineering & Science, who finished in 16:40.

 

Garrett Gray led North East to the AA team win with his 6th place 16:50.



"I had planned on going with the lead pack and running a 4:55 first mile," Beveridge said. "But it was 4:45, so I decided to hold it all the way through. This morning I woke up and I was a little worried, but my coach told me what I could do today. Last year I ran a couple of stupid races, but this year I learned how to race the right way. Now I have a couple of goals for next year.

"After the mile people started to fade and I just went. I knew I had to take it then. I know I don't have the strongest kick, but I knew no one was going to get me."

North East won the boys title with 83 points over fellow District 10 team General McLane's 151 points. It is the school's 9th teams title between the boys' and the girls' programs.

Boys AAA Boys Top Fives
North Penn 90
Coatesville 107
North Allegheny 110
Seneca Valley 140
Upper Dublin 175

Mark Dennin, Boyertown 15:30
Chris Aldrich, Henderson 15:59
Josh Izewski, Central Bucks East 16:05
Tyler Jones, Central Bucks West 16:06
Nick Crits, Wissahickon, 16:07 

CARLISLE EVENING SENTINEL 
Trinity, CV teams fare well

LANCASTER INTELLIGENCER
Illness bites McNally at Pa. meet.
 
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
PIAA Cross Country: WPIAL runners slip in finals at Hershey
2006 girls' champ from Neshannock finishes second in AA
 
AAA Champion Mark Dennin, Boyertown, with about 600m to go.

 

By Kimberly Jaick Soden

Boys AAA: Mark Dennin gave Boyertown its second straight boys' individual champion on Saturday when the senior ran away with the AAA title. Dennin clocked 15:30 to out-pace West Chester Henderson's Chris Aldrich, who finished in 15:59.

"I just stayed with them as long as I could and then I tried to drop them," Dennin said. "I have a lot of faith and confidence in myself. I definitely tapered this week, so I'm going to do my best to try to peak again and hopefully run the Mideast [senior race]."

In the team race, senior Zack Montijo finished sixth overall to lead North Penn to its first-ever team title. It's been 10 years since North Penn has even had more than four boys out training over the summer.

"We knew this race was either our's to win or our's to lose," Montijo said. "Most of the guys were more nervous than excited." Montijo and senior Zach Hoagland, who ran third for the team, won't be back to defend North Penn's title, but the rest will be.

"It's good to know we have a team coming back next year," said 7th man Brian Kuntzman, a junior. "We just packed it up. That's what we've been doing all season. We compete against each other."

Hoagland finished 24th and sophomore Brad Miles was 10th to add to North Penn's medal collection.

"We worked hard all summer long," Hoagland said. "We started the season hoping to win districts, but I'd say 'what about states?' As we started to get better and improve things just started going our way and now we're where we've proved ourselves."

Rounding out North Penn's squad were juniors Tim Stauring (No. 4), Dom Camasso (No. 5) and Brian Quintrell (No. 6).

Zach Montijo, North Penn, is in a great position at 1.25 miles. 

Side Notes: One thing that is a given with Conestoga Valley senior Vince McNally is that when he wins, he wins with class. And the same can be said for when he loses. Coming into this year's championships, McNally was a heavy favorite in the AAA race having beaten one of the key challengers, Boyertown's Mark Dennin, at the Steel City Invitational. Shortly after fading from 2nd to 18th, McNally was helped to the medical tent. But within the hour and talking about the race after receiving his medal, McNally had nothing but praise for Dennin's race. "He attacked the hills. He would hit the top, put his head down, and go." McNally said that he 'hit the wall' at the top of the final hill, and that it is only the second time he has experienced that most dreaded of experiences. "We'll get back to training and I'll be fine." Conestoga Valley coach Mike Craighead said after the race while McNally was in the medical tent that he apparently was suffering from an intestinal illness that worsened during the race, a bug he apparently caught from his brother during the week. Bottom line is, there were no excuses from McNally. Just praise for a strong competitor. On a positive note, McNally confirmed that he is making a verbal commitment to Penn State University.

 

 

11/01 Akiba Hebrew Academy Invitational @ Belmont Plateau
11/03 NCAA Division II East Regional @ Lock Haven University
11/03 PIAA State Championships @ Hershey Parkview
11/04 12th Mid-Atlantic USATF XC Champs @ Oakbourne Park, West Chester

  

 
Week-long Newspaper Coverage from around PA
 
ALLENTOWN MORNING CALL
Emmaus runs away with state title
 
ALTOONA MIRROR
Seymour wins race by 40 seconds  
 
CARLISLE EVENING SENTINEL
Twice is nice for Spence 
 
CARLISLE EVENING SENTINEL
Millhouse takes bronze in Hershey
 
CARLISLE EVENING SENTINEL 
Trinity, CV teams fare well
 
CHAMBERSBURG PUBLIC OPINION 
Neely Spence captures PIAA gold again
 
HARRISBURG PATRIOT-NEWS
Beveridge basks in state title
 
HARRISBURG PATRIOT-NEWS
Rerun: Shippensburg's Spence repeats as AAA champion
 
JOHNSTOWN TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT
Carly and Central Cambria cruise to title
 
JOHNSTOWN TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT
Medals abound for local stars
 
LANCASTER INTELLIGENCER
Illness bites McNally at Pa. meet.
 
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
PIAA Cross Country: Attitude the difference for North Allegheny
 
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE

 

PIAA STATE CHAMPS PREVIEW

By Aaron Rich

Previews are simply that. Advice on what to watch for. However, sometimes the results bear no resemblance to the previews. That is why they run the races. But what is so much fun about this season is, four teams who have never won a state title are in good position to do so. Even if only three, or two, or one of them accomplishes that goal, it'll be special. So enjoy. Race well. And above all, remember every moment of your weekend, and have fun.

 

Preview by Rich Emert of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 

 

Carly Seymour, Central Cambria.

AA girls


Central Cambria's Carly Seymour is a strong favorite to win her second state championship, as she has developed into a national caliber athlete over the past two years. Seymour first won as a sophomore. 2006 state champion Kacey Gibson, Neshannock, has experienced winning on this course and has been running very well this year. Kara Millhouse, Boiling Springs, is another runner who has made major improvements this season. The depth of this AA talent is evident in that all three are capable of qualifying for the Footlocker National Meet. Not to be overlooked as a favorite for a top-3 finish is Lauren Zarger, Harbor Creek, who has been running consistently well all year. District 1 champion Stephanie Fulmer, St. Pius X, should also be in this mix as she is coming on strong late in the season. Casey Miller, Lewisburg, also looks capable of breaking into the top-5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Central Cambria at the 9/15 Altoona Invitational

 


In the team race, Central Cambria looks to be the strongest contender for the championship. Behind Carly's incredible times the 2-5 runners are capable of a 35 to 50- second spread and won their district meet with 28 points over Forest Hills with all 5 runners in the top-10. Lewisburg, Union City, Elk Lake, Trinity, and St. Basil should challenge for the top-5. But just to make things interesting, both York Suburban and Tulpehocken beat Trinity at the District 3 meet. Lewisburg lost one of their powerful top three to a stress fracture, but plugged in two freshmen to give themselves a real chance at beating Central Cambria for the 2nd time this year.


Neely Spence winning District 3 AAA - Photo by Timothy O'Dowd.


AAA Girls


Neely Spence is a favorite to repeat as state champion and she is poised to make it happen, as she is also capable of a top-5 finish at the Footlocker Nationals. Spence has chosen her races carefully this season to fully prepare for the post-season, and she looks like she is ready to go. Jess Cygan, Liberty, and and Carly Hamond, West Chester Henderson, should also be favored in this race. Cygan has been running great times for a frosh and Carly won the District 1 meet convincingly over some tough competition. Meghan Lutz, Nazareth, Rachel Wong, Northern, Melissa Frick, Strath Haven, Marie Thompson, Downingtown East, Natalie Bower, Latrobe, and Christine Smith, Unionville, all look to contend for the top-5.

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The pack that starts togehter, stays within 28-seconds of each other.


Wong, Frick, Thompson, and Smith all have special reason to finish as high as possible as they will be leading their teams to a realistic shot at a top-3 finish in the team race. Emmaus appears destined for the history books in PA as they are poised to win a state championship and qualify for NTN, all with a roster full of underclassmen. Northern York, who is undefeated all year, won their district meet impressively (66 points to 144 points over Cumberland Valley), and is the top challenger for Emmaus. Challenging for a top 3 finish are Cumberland Valley, Strath Haven, Downingtown East, Council Rock North, and Unionville.


Anonymous Prediction: EMMAUS -- NORTHERN YORK -- COUNCIL ROCK NORTH -- STRATH HAVEN --DOWNINGTOWN EAST -- UNIONVILLE -- LIBERTY

 Alez Zubey, Tamaqua, winning D11.

 

 

 

AA Boys


Alex Zubey, Tamaqua, and Joe Beveridge, Bishop McDevitt, are the strong favorites to win the AA boys competition. Zubey is coming off a 22 second win in the District 11 championships, and Beveridge is coming off of a 24 second victory in District 3. Another pair of runners who will be looking for victory are Engineering and Science's Terrence Lee, who ran a very fast 16:02 on a soggy Belmont Plateau course, and Jenkintown's Greg Ahlswede, who was victorious in the District 1 meet. Jonathan McElwain, Riverside, and Dan Dillon, General McLane, are top-5 hopefuls, along with Garth Watson, Canton, who won the District 4 meet with a solo run. Also in the running for a top-5 finish are Adam Shrawder, West Middlesex, and Garrett Gray, North East, who will be trying to lead their teams to victory.

North East, West Middlesex, and General McLane are the top three ranked teams in AA competition, however the finish at the District 10 meet was McLane, North East, West Middlesex, so this one will have to be sorted out on the hills of Parkview. Trinity and York Suburban are two other ranked teams trying for a top-3 finish at states, but watch out for a peaking Lancaster Mennonite team who upended both at the District 3 championships.

 Vince McNally, Conestoga Valley, at Steel City.

 

AAA Boys


The battle for the AAA boys individual championship will go to the runner who is best able to withstand what will surely be a unforgiving pace over the Aloha Hills (back hills) on the Parkview course. Vince McNally, Conestoga Valley, and Chris Aldrich, West Chester Henderson, are the favorites to win the title, with both running very fast, legitimate times this year as they tore through every course they ran. A very strong challenger to these two will be Mark Dennin, Boyertown, who has also been running very fast times, and looks to be peaking at the right time. David Adley, Baldwin, is a darkhorse for a top-3 position, as he has made winning a habit over the last 2 months. Tyler Jones, CB West, Josh Izewski, CB East, and Nick Crits, Wissahickon, all have the talent to crack the top-5 at states. Brad Miles and Zach Montijo, are also capable of a high finish and have the added motivation of helping North Penn win the team competition.

 

 

 North Penn's top three at Manhattan Invitational.

 
North Penn has already made history this year with their win and 2nd all-time team average at the Manhattan Invitational, and that history could continue if they win the team title at states for the first time. North Penn has 4 runners that have run sub-16 minute times this year. Tough competition could come from a talented Upper Dublin squad which boasts 3 sub-16 minute runners. Other teams with a chance at the podium are Cumberland Valley, North Allegheny, and Coatesville.