Photo Galleries by Don Rich of the 12/29 Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic @ Lehigh University

The 2006 Radnor High School girls' cross country team finished a remarkable season by winning the AAA state champinship over a young, but undaunted Emmaus team. Radnor began the season with a national ranking and #1 in PA, and had that target on their backs all season. But with the guidance of the Father-Daughter Team Flanagan coaching tandem of Tom and Bridget, and senior leadership by four of the top five runners, the girls survived the pressures, both internal and external, to win the school's first state XC title. Most of the varsity agreed to put their thoughts on the season into words. PennTrackXC.com is grateful to each of them for taking the time to share their perspectives, and again, congratulate them on their achievements. We'll publish one new one daily, beginning 12/27 with their freshman sensation, and soccer-player-turned-stud-runner, Kelyn Freedman. The Radnor Stories will be followed next week by the Coatesville Chronicles.

At the MARINE CORPS INDOOR CLASSIC in New York, defending 800 champ Shaniel Chambers of Chester won again. On Friday at week #1 of the COLGATE WOMEN\'S GAMES @ Pratt Institute in NY, Syeeda Gee of Engineering & Science had a great first night, winning the HS 1500 and taking 3rd in the 800. At the SETON HALL INVITATIONAL, Chester\'s girls captured two relays, winning the 1600 Sprint Medley Relay and the 4x200. At the ROBERT J. BURDETTE INDOOR CLASSIC @ Lehigh University, there were a lot of dropped jaws after several of the performances at this always-deep meet. The fact that one of the more shocked individuals happened to be one of the athletes may come as a surprise. All junior Chanelle Price of Easton did was pull off a triple that included three meet records and set the stage for more indoor performances that could have all-time implications. Methacton\'s Ryann Krais won the 400. She then anchored the 4x200 to a win with her lap of 24.7 after spotting a 35 meter advantage on the exchange. Also setting the stage for a big year from Easton was Abby Schaffer in the Pole Vault. Junior Karen Shump, Penncrest, won the Shot Put. And West Catholic\'s Simone Carter captured the 60-200 sprint double. (Photo of Ryann Krais anchoring the winning 4x200 in a split of 24.7)

Policies for Selection for the Boys & Girls Invitational High School Mile at the 100th Annual Millrose Games

Photo Galleries by Don Rich of the 12/22 DVGTCA Indoor Meet #3 @ Ursinus College

PoleVaultPower.com announced today that they will immediately begin sponsorship of former Virginia Tech pole vaulter Brian Mondschein.

On Monday 12/18 in the PCL GIRL\'S INDOOR MEET #1, frosh Amanda Bascelli of Archbishop Carroll picked up where she left off after a stellar cross country debut, winning the 3000, with Archbishop Prendergast\'s Erica Matticola about a second back. The next night at the PCL BOY\'S INDOOR MEET #1, Leemue Koimene of Father Judge won the high jump and Bonner\'s Sean Wilkes took the shot put. S. Mallon of Archbishop Ryan doubled in the winning the 800 and mile, while the O\'Hara relays captured the 4x200 and 4x400. At the DVGTCA INDOOR MEET #3 @ URSINUS COLLEGE, >Ryann Krais of Methacton cruised to an 8.6 and the win in the 60 meter hurdles, then anchored her team with a 57.3 split in the 4x400. O\'Hara won the hot heat, breaking 4:07. Allison Sikora of Council Rock North took a fast 3000 in 10:34.0 after battling Sarah Simonetti, Pennridge, much of the way. Simonetti passed a surging Cece Davis-Hayes of Germantown Friends, who was 3rd. The 4x800 was quick, with Council Rock North winning in 9:46.6. Central Bucks West was 2nd in 9:48.2 behind a 2:15 anchor by senior Liz Kearins (In PennTrackXC.com photo), who got the baton in 11th place. 11 teams bettered 10:00. Germantown Academy\'s Kacie Kergides set a DVGTCA fieldhouse record by almost ten seconds in the 300m. Ridley\'s Samantha Smarkola also set a fieldhouse record, winning the 600m. Courtney Kedra of Phoenixville won the long jump, bettering 17\'. And Karen Shump of Penncrest was the winner in the Shot Put, going over 44-03.50, also a fieldhouse record. At the TFCAGP D1 INDOOR MEET #4, eastern PA pole vaulter Joe Berry was in a zone few from the east have ventured over recent years. His 15-01 is a very strong early season effort, and a PR for the senior, indoor or outdoor. North Penn\'s Mike Joell cruised through the 60 just over 7 seconds. Neshaminy\'s Tim Bech triple jumped over 43 and Vince Formica of Central Bucks South long jumped over 21. At the TFCAGP D2 INDOOR MEET #4 @ LEHIGH UNIVERSITY, Chestnut Hill Academy senior Wayne Crowford bested 55\' in the Shot Put for the third time this young season. Perkiomen Valley\'s Tyrone Jones also went over 50\'. Jamar Jones of Engineering & Science broke 2 in the 800. And Great Valley was sub-10:55 in the DMR.

After some needed repairs on my computer, and recharging my personal battery, I am ready to begin my onsite meet coverage for the Indoor season. I will be at 13 meets during indoor, including one in western PA, two in Central PA, one in New York, and of course, PTFCA States.

A PennTrackXC.com reader is looking for a video of the High School Girls DMR from the 2006 Penn Relays. The race would have been held on Thursday late in the afternoon. Please forward questions and/or good news to don@penntrackxc.com.

12/16 INDOOR WEEK #3 SUMMARY: You could consider the 12/15 HILL SCHOOL INVITATIONAL Ryann Krais\' early December warm-ups. The Methacton junior won three individual events and anchored the winning 4x400. Glen Mills\' Semaj Spencer took two, the high and long jumps. And Chestnut Hill Academy\'s Wayne Crawford was out there nicely in the shot put, going nearly 57 feet. On Saturday at Haverford College in the TFCAGP D2 INDOOR MEET #3, Strath Haven\'s Rob Speare posted a very quick 8:52.6 3000, which amazingly, is the 2nd best 3K over the first three weeks of the season. In the 800, Khaliff Featherstone, Simon Gratz; Elliott Rhodes, Germantown Academy; and Jamar Jones, Engineering & Science, all broke two minutes, but none were under 1:59. Can you say tight? At the TFCAGP D1 INDOOR MEET #3, Boyertown\'s Mark Dennin became the 3rd guys under 9 in this young season. Central Bucks South won the DMR. Jay Pittenger stayed in the clouds in the High Jump. At the DICKINSON COLLEGE HS INVITE #1, the girls 55 hurdles were quick with Hughesville\'s Rachel Houseknecht edging Reading\'s Jazmin Hunt. Matt Davis of Harrisburg was a winner in the Long Jump and 200, while teammate Alysha Cook pulled off the 55-200 sprint double. In the first big meet at the New York Armory at the 53rd BISHOP LOUGHLIN GAMES, Easton\'s Abby Schaffer won the Pole Vault, clearing 12\'. Chester\'s Shaniel Chambers took 2nd in the 600 meters. At the FRANKLIN & MARSHALL HS INVITATIONAL #1, Kaleena Gray of Coatesville got off to a great start, taking the Shot Put with a throw over 43\'. Hempfield junior Sydney Clark toured 3000 meters in under 11 minutes. And two McCaskey sprinters took the 55 and 55 Hurdles. On Monday 12/18 in the PCL GIRL\'S INDOOR MEET #1, frosh Amanda Bascelli of Archbishop Carroll picked up where she left off after a stellar cross country debut, winning the 3000, with Archbishop Prendergast\'s Erica Matticola about a second back. The next night at the PCL BOY\'S INDOOR MEET #1, Leemue Koimene of Father Judge won the high jump and Bonner\'s Sean Wilkes took the shot put. S. Mallon of Archbishop Ryan doubled in the winning the 800 and mile, while the O\'Hara relays captured the 4x200 and 4x400.

Frances Koons graduated from Allentown Central Catholic in 2004 as one of the most highly recruited athletes in the country

As promised, Borderwar Sports has released the remaining four regional championship sites. This follows the release last week of the first six locations.

For years, the question lingered: When will the Philadelphia Catholic League teams be able to compete for a state title? Yesterday, that question was finally answered.

All year the strategy was simple

Another men\'s cross country, and indoor and outdoor track & field program feels the effects ot compliance with Title IX regulations. This time it is Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

The online order page is now up for you to order your VHS or DVD of the 2006 PIAA State Cross Country Championships held November 4 at the new Hershey Parkview course. On this page, you can also order any past championships of the state T&F championships since 2002, or any of the Cross Country state championships since 2000. Link in the story or on the PCN ad to the right.

Neely Spence and Carly Seymour make their first Foot Locker Finals experience a top 10 kind of day. Paul Springer has an off day... but is already looking ahead to indoor, outdoor, and more PRs.

It\'s take-the-plunge time for the Catholic League with regard to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. Monday at 10 a.m., a news conference will be held at School District of Philadelphia headquarters, 440 N. Broad St., to announce that the CL is joining the PIAA. Where does that leave La Salle and St. Joseph\'s Prep, independent schools that are \"fully\" private?

Photo Gallery of PA athletes Neely Spence, Carly Seymour and Paul Springer at Foot Locker Nationals - photos by John Herzog for the MileSplit Network

An incredible day for the PA\'s Neely Spence and Carly Seymour, and a day of disappointment for Paul Springer at Foot Locker Nationals. Jason Weller, Boyertown, ran an 8:39.8 3K solo at Lehigh Saturday.(Front page photo by John Herzog - Carly Seymour and Neely Spence during the race.

Last year at this time, then Conestoga senior Liz Costello was basking in the sunshine and deserved attention in San Diego at the Foot Locker Nationals. She had won the AAA state championship a month earlier and set a meet record at the original 2001-2005 Hershey course that is now officially retired. Costello finished her great senior year with a state indoor title in the 3000 to go with a Millrose Mile invitation; a state title in the 1600 in outdoor, and then a big PR with a 4:29.36 1500 at USATF Junior Nationals, good for 5th place. Costello had gone early decision at Princeton, and scored all season this fall for the Tigers, who finished what she termed a \'disappointing\' 23rd. Costello\'s best race of the season was the Paul Short Run in late September, where she ran 2nd on the team, finishing 9th overall. She was injured in the race, but survived the year to get to her first NCAA Championships. Her team is young - their recruiting class looks as good as last year - and Costello has high expectations for herself and her new team. PennTrackXC.com borrowed some of her time to talk about her season, her team and her adjustment to a major college program at the Ivy League school.

BorderWar Sports, organizers of the new BorderChallenge National XC Championship, has just announced the locations of six of the ten regional championship venues, as well as the national championship meet. As expected, the national championship meet will be held just outside of Orlando at the National Training Center (NTC) in Clermont, Florida on December 1, 2007.

I am excited for it to be January to get a regular \"flow\" of a training week and working out again! School is pretty stressful at the moment, but I guess I like it! Hahaha! I am coming home for Christmas! Yaaay!

...after the last calls were made, teams were invited, and the race run this weekend, I

Seven months after graduating from the University of Notre Dame, All-American and state champion Stephanie Madia (North Allegheny High) is still thriving off that pre-race sickly-stomach feeling. (Photo of Madia at 2005 D1 NCAA cross country nationals, where she finished 3rd - by Victor Saylor of PhotoRun.net)

There was a major scoring snafu at the Nike Team Nationals that temporarily cost Hilton NY their rightful place on the podium. The story from the Rochester NY Democrat and Chronicle...

Standards for entry into the 2007 PTFCA Indoor State Championships, Saturday, February 24, 2007 @ Penn State University

The battle of the polls may be ending, as the proposed 2007 BoarderChallenge National Cross Country Championships are announced, complete with 11 regional meets designed to end the controversy of polls.

12/2 XC WEEK #13-INDOOR WEEK #1 SUMMARY: Northeast #1 and PA AAA State Champs Coatesville is the NIKE TEAM NATIONALS champion! They led at 2k, were 3rd at 3k, but back in the lead at 4k and 5k. Oh, and those NW teams were US#1 and #2. On the girls side, the Northeast took three of the top four spots, with Fayetteville-Manliius NY 1st, Hilton NY 2nd, and Colts Neck NY 4th. Kinda looks like they could have gone four deep again in the Northeast. Now a junior, Penncrest\'s Karen Shump came out Friday night at the DVGTCA INDOOR MEET #1 and quickly made a statement to PA that she has been working, and working hard. Try 47-10.50. That is over a foot more than her indoor PR, almost three feet more than she began indoor last year, and within 1.75\" of her overall PR set as a freshman. The mark is a DVGTCA record. Ryann Krais won the 400 and anchored the winning Methacton 4x200. The 3000 was quick, and E&S and Radnor made a race of it in the 4x800. At the TFCAGP D1 INDOOR MEET #1 at Lehigh, the boys of Boyertown made their marks on the early distance rankings. State AAA cross country champ Jason Weller went 4:24.7 for the mile and Mark Dennin ran 9:01.5 to take the 3000. William Tennent\'s Jay Pittenger cleared a huge 6-10 in the High Jump. Also at Lehigh in the TFCAGP D2 INDOOR MEET #1 Germantown Friends\' Max Kaulbach also ran 9:01.5 in his 3000. Two guys topped 50\' in the Shot Put, and Strath Haven became the first team under 11 in the Distance Medley Relay - which will be contested at States for the first time. At the AAU NATIONAL XC CHAMPIONSHIPS in Orlando, Florida, The Lehigh Valley Road Runners made the trip worthwhile, taking 4th in the Intermediate Girls race behind four Emmaus athletes. Brittany Jackson of Girls High in Philadelphia, was 17th in the Young Women\'s race. The Lehigh valley Road Runners took 7th in Young Men behind Matt Simkin\'s 8th place. At the ALBRIGHT COLLEGE HS INVITE #1, quick time in the 55, 55H, 400 for the boys, and a nice shot by a Norristown thrower. (Photo: Screen capture of the NIN webcast by Dyestat and Nike)

I guess everyone could tell how dead I was because I stopped talking and then like Ueli would try to talk to me and distract me from the pain and fatigue I was in!

Everything this team has accomplished to date was a stepping stone toward the season-long goal of not simply qualifying for the 3rd Nike Team Nationals, but to win it. (Front page photo: Kyle Dawson and four teammates in the main chase pack approaching the mile at their home Steel City Invitational October 7th)

Ron Delany\'s Olympic triumph in 1956 cemented ties between a university and a country.

The Catholic League would enter next year, and start to compete in playoffs in 2008-09.

A complete perforrmance list of all Pennsylvania athletes who have competed in the Foot Locker Championships since it began in 1979.