"I told the girls that if Lance Armstrong could win after being on the cover of Sports Illustrated, then we could handle being ranked #9 in the Northeast US."
And apparently the talk Parkland head coach Loretta Dodson had with her girls worked. They held off an upfront charge by improving Chambersburg to win a dry, cool and largest-ever Steel City Invitational. It actually looked closer than the 22 point difference in the end, because Chambersburg started off with a single point behind sophomore Sarah Morrson's first place 19:29, just seven seconds up on Gwynedd-Mercy's Kate Vernon; and just another seven points from fellow soph Brooke Jacobs. But the Red Pack of Parkland rolled in, starting with the 5th place by Erin Roberts in 19:49, and finished scoring just 1:22 later with Kristin Knouse at 21:11. For insurance, their 6th runner was in a half second later. Dodson sees a real battle for the state AAA title this year. But first they have three meets with District 11 rival Allentown Central Catholic before that day arrives. Gwynedd Mercy was 3rd as a team with 146. In the boys race, Council Rock North moved up to NE#4 on 10/1, but without their #3 and #6 runners, they were vulnerable. Ready to pounce was the home team. The front-running strategy of race victor John Mahoney (16:20) and 6th place Brandon Pomerantz (16:44), who was a bit under the weather; tallied just seven points, But Coatesville packed them in with an 11th place from Ellis Wilson in 16:59, and 45 seconds later wrapped up the scoring at 113, eight better than North. Coatesville coach Keith Andrew was happy to have his 9:32 3200 runner Amin Garnett back in the lineup. Garnett ran 16:32 in the rain on this course in 2003, but is just winding back in to shape, finishing 26th today in 17:27. "Give him another four weeks, and he'll be right there where we need him to be." Andrew also credited the toughness of his three scoring sophomores, especially Sean Ward, who he says has been mentally focused since his first race as a frosh, "and that rubs off on the team." Both teams will have a chance to get to full strength in four weeks in hopes of catching one of the top teams in the US, Cedar Cliff. Kyle Murray, Central Bucks South, was 2nd in 16:24.
Late in the first mile, it's Central Bucks South's Kyle Murray, eventual winner John Mahoney, Council Rock North, O'Hara junior Greg Thmas, and Coatesville's Ellis Wilson.
Starting up the HILL, it's Rock's John Mahoney, following Kyle Murray, Central Bucks South. Rock teammate Brandon Pomerantz is in the back.
Mahoney wins in 16:20.
Team champs Coatesville.
Parkland finishes their strideouts before the start of the race.
Chambersburg sophomores Brooke Jacobs and Sarah Morrison (who would win) take it out fast, but Parkland #1 Erin Roberts and Gwynedd Mercy #1 Kate Vernon are right there.
Sarah Morrison wins in 19:29.
Parkland #1 Erin Roberts holds off a charging Laura Blaesser of Oxford.
Team champs Parkland.
2nd place Chambersburg.