PA Heat Up Again: Week 6 Meet Recaps

Dan Beck


William Tennent Invitational - Meet Recap

GIRLS RECAP

Penn Charter's Emma Zwall wasted little times getting to the front in the girls varsity race.

Just a freshman, Zwall knew the path on Tennent's course narrowed quickly, so her race plan was to get out fast. She raced to the lead in the opening kilometer and gradually pulled away from the rest of the field. Her gap widened as the race went on and in the final mile, it turned into a solo effort.

Zwall powered home in 18:15, a big PR for the freshman, who has put herself squarely in the conversation for the PAISAA title. Previously, we saw Zwall take third at the George School Invitational.

Coatesville's Brooke Hutton placed second in 18:41. She battled for most of the race with Cheltenham's MaryGrace Rittler. Hutton pulled away in the final kilometer, as Rittler, unfortunately, struggled to the finish line, but still took seventh place.

For Hutton, it's only her second race of the season. He raced at Carlisle last week where she took third. She told us her late start is all part of a plan, so she can perform better at the end of the season with states and regionals. Saturday was another step in the right direction.

Neshaminy's Kaylee McCullough took third in 19:21, while Harriton's Michelle Qin was fourth in 19:22. Council Rock South's Marisa Kilgarriff was fifth in 19:31 to lead the Golden Hawks and GMA's Kelly Murray was sixth in 19:37.

The team title went to PA#4 Central Bucks West, which once again showed off its depth. West put its top five all inside the top 20 with Julia Flood's ninth place finish in 19:42 leading the way. The Bucks scored 60 points. Council Rock South was second with 102 points and the Zwall-led Penn Charter girls were third with 153 points.


BOYS RECAP

The best battle of the weekend came in the boys race at Tennent as Wallenpaupack's Tyler Wirth (PA#10) squared off with Council Rock North's Ryan Campbell (PA#9). Campbell opened up a gap on Wirth around the midway point, but Wirth stormed back and took the win in the final loop.

The two were side-by-side up Tennent's dreaded last hill. Shortly after that, Wirth made a move that Campbell couldn't answer. Wirth took the win in 15:30, his first invitational win after placing sixth at both PTXC9 and Paul Short.

Campbell led his team to the victory with a second place finish in 15:36. His teammate Ethan Koza was third in 15:52. Sam Earley (seventh in 16:14) and Kevin Ehrgott (eighth in 16:15) posted strong top ten finishes as well. Council Rock North won with 50 points.

Central Bucks West's Michael Samson took fourth in 16:00. Cheltenham's Jason Cornelison posted a strong performance, taking fifth in 16:01. Payton Sewell led Downingtown West with a sixth place finish in 16:06.

Twin Valley, led by Dylan Servis's ninth place finish, turned in another strong team performance, placing second with 95 points. Downingtown West was third with 102 points and Central Bucks West was fourth with 125 points.