What to watch for (9/17 WKND): Briarwood, Ben Bloser, Altoona, George School, Bradford & more!

Photo by Patty Morgan

Briarwood Invitational (Philadelphia, PA)

Photo by Patty Morgan

BOYS PREVIEW

How about 40% of the Saucony Flo50 PA team top ten in one race? That's what we'll get on Saturday at Briarwood in the Championship Race. #2 Council Rock North, #4 LaSalle, #5 Cardinal O'Hara, and #6 Central Bucks West will go head-to-head in Philadelphia at Belmont Plateau. It'll be the invite debuts for LaSalle, O'Hara and CB West (North opened with a 4th place finish at PTXC 8). Without a good look at any of these teams, the team battle is more or less up for grabs. William Tennent is another squad you can't overlook in this bunch.

As far an the individual race goes, there will be plenty of contenders including reigning state medalists Ryan James of O'Hara, Rusty Kujdych of Neshaminy, Liam Galligan of Springfield (Delco), along with CB West's Brian Mass, CR North's Bryan Keller and Tim Haas, LaSalle's Stephen Paul and Evan Addison, and Tennent's Evan Rahill and Evan Hutton. With a lot of close competition, the team race will likely be decided by a place or two here and there. While the season is still early, Saturday will be a good indicator of where these teams are at.

In the Division I race, Central Bucks East will be the heavy favorites. Fresh off team wins at Northampton and Abington, we won't see the Patriots against those ranked squads, but we should still get a good idea of what kind of team East is after Saturday. Led by David Endres and William Schulz, they're a very strong team.

Haverford's James Abrahams is coming off a nice runner-up finish to Galligan at Abington last week. He was ahead of Endres, so that should be the race up front on Saturday. Trenton Central's Mulual Mu and Hatboro-Horsham's Jared Bixler will also be in the hunt for high finishes.

In the Division II race, we'll see Holy Ghost Prep, Haddonfield, and Archbishop Curley as the teams to watch. Holy Ghost has a few invites under its belt. Led by Callahan Lennon, they'll go for the win, but NJ's Haddonfield will be tough with the possible race favorite in Derek Gess. But Episcopal's Jakob Jorgensen should also get in the mix up front.

Photo by Howard Anderson

GIRLS PREVIEW

Only five teams make up the Championship girls race. The favorites are North Penn, who had a big win at Abington last week, The individual favorite is North Penn's Ariana Gardizy, as it doesn't appear Cardinal O'Hara's Olivia Arizin is entered with her teammates. Still, the Mancini sisters from O'Hara---Eleanor, Christine, and Elizabeth---will be in the mix. Downigntown East will be a team to watch. Led by Maddy and Lexi VanBlunk, East could make a good run on Saturday.

In the Division I race, Alyssa Condell of Timber Creek (NJ) will be the favorite, but she should get a good race from some strong PA runners. CB East's Abbey Iafolla and Cameron Billingsley will look to keep their strong starts up and have the ability to give Condell a run. Ridley's Jamie Green and Harriton's Tasha Greene should be in the mix as well.

In the Division II race, it should be the Pearl River show. The NY squad were big winners last season in the this race. They have defending DII champ Mary Borkoski back and a host of others that should lead the way to victory. Among the others to watch are Olivia Gerstenbacher of AP Schalick, Sanaiya Watts of Agnes Irwin, and Samanatha Gliwa of Bonner & Prendie.