MT's Craig Miller, Blazers' Groff set pace in crucial early meet By Joel Schreiner, Correspondent Sep 3, 2003, 09:35 EST Intelligencer Journal
Still dripping wet from an afternoon out in the rain, Manheim Township cross country coach Terry Lee peered out over the sloppy course at Lancaster Mennonite High School.
"There was nothing fast about this course," he said, referring to the rain-slickened hills and foot-deep puddles all along the course.
He may not get away with saying that to the dozens of runners his super sophomore, Craig Miller, left in the dust -- er, mud -- Tuesday.
Miller, the defending Lancaster-Lebanon League champion, made it look easy, dodging the puddles and treacherous turf en route to a course record as Township downed Conestoga Valley (25-36), Mennonite (18-40) and Lebanon (15-55) in the regular season-opening quad meet for each team.
"It was tough, because you had to be so careful," said Miller, whose time of 17:07 bested the course record set by Cedar Crest's Pat Clark in 2002. "Once I got pretty far ahead, I knew I could take my time and not rush it."
Defending L-L girls champion Kristen Groff of Lancaster Mennonite also posted an impressive win as the Blazers defeated Township (25-30), CV (15-55) and the Cedars (15-55).
"The course was awful," said Groff, who came from behind to beat out early pacesetter Laura Hennessey of Lebanon. "She really made us run hard. I was surprised she kept going that fast."
The blazing pace caught up to Hennessey, who eventually had to drop out of the race shortly after Groff passed her at about the two-mile mark.
"I knew I had to do it, but I really didn't think I had it in me this early in the season to catch her," said Groff, who posted a 21:12 time. "I know you should never give up, so going up the last hill and on the last flat, I decided to go for it."
Lindsay Shertzer, a freshman transfer and runner-up in last year's L-L junior high meet, made the move with Groff and finished second in 21:51.
"We were too tired to talk about it," Shertzer said of the pass. "We both knew what we had to do without saying it to each other."
Annette Stoltzfus, another freshman transfer to Mennonite and winner of last year's junior high meet, finished fourth to help the Blazer cause.
"She's so good," Blazer coach Nelson Shertzer said of Groff. "I don't think anyone in the league will beat her this year."
Manheim Township's Shannon Reese prevented the Blazers from sweeping the top three spots by finishing third (22:03). The Streaks' Katie Calhoun was sixth (23:17).
"I told (Kristen and Lindsay) to go get her (Hennessey)," Nelson Shertzer said. "Hennessey wasn't looking very good at that point (two-mile mark). I figured they would catch her."
Nobody was catching Craig Miller, who led start to finish and had already downed a couple cups of water and had a bite to eat by the time runner-up Kip Horbal, of Conestoga Valley, crossed the finish line almost 90 seconds later.
"I knew Kip would give me a little push," said Miller. "Around the second mile I pulled away and I felt great. I was a little surprised that the time was good enough for the course record."
Miller picked up where he left off a year ago when he finished second at districts and fifth at states as a freshman. In the spring, he also set the national freshman record for the mile.
"I would think that is going to happen a lot this year," said Lee of Miller's easy victory. "Craig's proven that he has the strength, speed, stamina and determination to win. Craig Miller is the next level and the coach can only do so much to help him in this case."
CV had a strong showing, placing three runners in the top five as Devin Kelly (18:46) and Ryan Bair (18:51) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
But Township's Harry Dixon finished third (18:40), while Craig's twin brother Brad finished sixth (19:03). An unrelated Miller, Marshall, finished eighth (19:23) and William Buckwalter's 10th-place finish gave Township the decision.
"Township just has so much depth," said CV coach Mike Craighead. "Craig Miller is the class of the league."
And he wasted little time letting everyone know there will be no sophomore slump.