Carlisle Invite Meet Story: Party time for Downingtown West & Cumberland Valley!

CARLISLE -- In many ways the 23rd Carlisle High School Invitational was a coming out party for Downingtown West. The Whippets got individual wins from Jaxson Hoey (15:28) and Aislinn Devlin (18:04) and a boys team win that laid down the gauntlet for every other AAA boys team in the state.

Cumberland Valley led by Mady Clahane (3rd, 18:13) took the girls title.


After falling towards the end of last year's race at Carlisle, Jaxson Hoey had hit sites set high this year.


"My goal going into it was just to win and try to set the course record as a secondary goal," said the Downingtown West senior who last year ran for Malvern Prep.


Though the record (15:17.83) set by Coatesville's Kyle Dawson in 2006 proved to be illusive, Hoey ,who said his mindset is "that every race is a gift from God," wasn't all that disappointed.


"I took the lead a little too early. That had the possibility of hindering the performance (but) right now I am just blessed to be here healthy and running with confidence.


"I'm just happy with the win," he said of his PR performance.



Hoey's brother Josh was second PA finisher taking fourth overall (15:40).


"My race strategy was just to try and stick as close to the leaders as possible," said Josh Hoey. "I was fading at the second mile but I'll be stronger at the end of the season."


West Virginia University High's Seth Edwards took second (15:31) and New Jersey Don Bosco Prep's David Rosas was third (15:39).


The top six Whippets medaled (Henry Sappey, 8th, 15:51; Ryan Barton, 17th, 16:27; Shaurn Bullock, 22nd, 16:32; Ben Ryherd, 24th, 16:36) and their seventh runner Patrick Blair finished just shy of the top-30 (31st, 16:50.)


With Downingtown West graduating just one of its top five runners the transfer of the Hoey brothers last January has been definite cause for celebration for the Whipplets who took fourth in the PIAA AAA team competition last November.


"We're on the top of the world right now," said Barton. "This (meet) is one of our milestones (but) we have to keep pushing."




Girls

Devlin affirmed how much the Downingtown West loosk forward to racing at Carlisle.


"We've been going to this (invitational) for a long time," said the junior. "It's always exciting. "It marks the beginning of the season."


Another reason for Devlin's affection for Carlisle is that it is the site of her PR (17:59) set her freshmen year.

Saturday the race didn't set up for that perfect opportunity to break it but still yielded her best time in the last two seasons.


"(The race) went out a little quick, but then settled in" said Devlin. "We went through the mile in 5:35. "I wanted to pick it up in the second mile. I knew that it would be the fastest mile."


Though leading Devlin knew her competition wasn't far behind.


"I heard girls behind me. I was just trying to hold on. Down the last hill I just let it go.




And via a time given to her near the end she knew that a PR wasn't going to happen but still, "I would have loved to break 18."


Clahane was battling more than the other runners Saturday with a tweaked ankle and her stomach drawing much of her attention. Coming down the last hill she was in fourth place with Chambersburg's Abby Yourkavitch and Padua Academy's Lydia Olivere running together ahead of her.


"At the end it was just hurting a lot," said a clearly frustrated Clahane directly after the race. "(But) I thought I'd go as fast as I could and it would end soon."


The CV senior couldn't catch the Deleware runner but did edge Yourkavitch right before the finish line.

And her frustration?


Well, the tears turned to smiles when with the finishes of the rest of the team (Marie Rulapaugh, 19th, 19:50; Grace Bechtel, 21st, 19:56; Annabelle Werner, 39th, 20:34; Beth Ryan, 54th 20:59) gave the Eagles the team title.


"I got really happy," said Clahane. "I've been waiting for this moment.


"When I crossed (the finish line) it was really hard but (winning the team title) was great.


"This really is a team sport."