WEEK #1 SUMMARY: Ernesto strikes. But this is cross country... so runners prevailed.
(More detailed summaries are below. Links to meet results and photo galleries are to the right)
Allison Sikora (left) and Sarah Simonetti, battled well past two miles, both
eventually breaking the old course record at the Viking Inv, with Simonetti going 18:16.
The Friday VIKING INVITATIONAL in Bucks County went on with minor raindrops, but 90 minutes earlier than originally scheduled. The girls varsity race saw two athletes, Sarah Simonetti, a Pennridge junior, and Allison Sikora, a Council Rock North senior, both beat the old course record. Simonetti broke open the tight race with Sikora in the last mile to smash the 18:32 record set in 2004 by Wissahickon's Annie Wilson with an 18:16. Skiora was just 12 seconds behind in 18:28. PA#8 Council Rock North's girls were strong winners, while on the boys side, PA#4 Central Bucks South showed a very nice sub-60 compression behind a sub-16 effort from their top runner. In Chambersburg at the ENOS YEAGER INVITATIONAL , Sarah Morrison defended home turf with a course record, beating fellow senior Lara Crofford of Big Spring. Both Chambersburg squads were dominant. At the OAKBOURNE RELAYS in Chester County, where runners are paired in a 2 x 2-mile race, the PA#3 Unionville girls had a strong showing, despite not being at full strength. In the boys' race, PA#2 West Chester Henderson was a nearly 1:39 victor over PA#10 Unionville, PA#3 West Chester East had the top tandem by three seconds. One other Friday meet, the MCALPIN INVITATIONAL at the Episcopal Academy, Devon Campus, was cancelled. Saturday saw the skies open up across PA where runners experienced everything from drizzle to drenching downpours. Two of the Saturday meets had been cancelled Friday in anticipation of the story. The BEAR MOUNTAIN RIVER RUN at Lock Haven University, and the MAROON & GOLD CLASSIC at Kutztown University were both victims of Ernesto. On Saturday at the BIG VALLEY INVITATIONAL , US#4 Coatesville's boys ran through all comers, tallying just 16 points in taking five of the top six spots and seven of the top ten with just a 48-second five-man spread. PA#5 State College put two in the top ten and was 2nd with 68 points. Coatesville #1 man Kyle Dawson won in 16:29. The State College girls were victorious with their 100 points behind the 3rd place 20:13 by Katherine Ward. Forest Hills junior Sarah Strayer won the race in 19:36. At the MCDOWELL INVITATIONAL , Sarah Lonzi of Bradford posted the best time of the day in horrible conditions, running a 19:19 to win the AAA Girls race, and to lead her team to a dominating win with just 26 points on a 1:54 compression. Mercyhurst Prep senior Michael Stolar ran 15:49 in the AA race, the best of the day, to beat fellow senior Ben Hahn of Smethport by five seconds. In the AAA Boys race, it was Cathedral Prep placing four in the top ten that helped to seal a narrow 54-57 win over Bradford.
Council Rock North coach Cliff Robbins is back
on the course after months of chemo,
followed by surgery for cancer. Welcome back!
At the FAIRVIEW INVITATIONAL , the Taylor Allderdice girls took five of the top eight spots for 27 points and the win, The Fairview boys swept 3rd through 7th place to tally just 25 points. At the HORNET HARRIER INVITATIONAL at Hickory, Neshannock junior Kacey Gibson got off to a great start, racing to an 18:52 solo win. But it was Sharon that took the team title by a 54-67 score over West Middlesex. Sharon placed three in the top nine. In the boys' race, it was almost a West Middlesex sweep, as five runners placed in the top six. It was a Tamaqua kind of day at the SHAMOKIN AREA PURPLE & WHITE. Not that it always rains in Tamaqua... but for the prior three years, there have been two very talented runners from Tamaqua who have made their marks on the state scene, one winning a state XC title. That title belongs to senior Isaac Dunkelberger, who had a race on his feet with Exeter's Nick Hilton, who was 2nd. Dunkelberger ran 16:43 in the monsoon conditions. The Tamaqua girls actually lost the team title at this meet on the 6th runner tiebreaker, but senior Alexa Griffiths started the scoring with one point with her 20:39. Blue Mountain took the title behind a 3rd place 21:41 by Vanessa Breslin. Placing three in the top 13 at the GATEWAY INVITATIONAL, the Baldwin boys team defeated Hempfield 64-82 in a steady drizzle. David Adley was the top finisher for Baldwin, taking 3rd in 16:48. Penn-Trafford's Josh Cristopher repeated as Gateway champ with a 16:29. In the girls' race, it was Baldwin's Kristie Dornes going 19:38, barely holding off Hempfield's Amber Valaimont, who was credited with the same time. Behind 5th, 7th, and 8th place efforts, Norwin was the team champ.
If we receive HyTek Backup or HyTek HTML results, we can automate the elite lists. All other formats have to be entered by hand, and will be delayed. Email don@penntrackxc.com with questions.
FRIDAY 9/1:
Josh Izewski of Central Bucks East, won the Viking Inv in a
quick 15:48, but it was a Central Bucks South
team lead by Bob Greer, 3rd in 15:54,
that won the team title for the PA#4 squad.
2nd John Sharp Viking Invitational @ Tamanend Park --
Both Pennridge junior Sarah Simonetti and Council Rock North senior Allison Sikora broke the Wissahickon stranglehold on the Tamanend Park course record. Beginning with Paige Miller in 2000, and followed in 2001 by Erin Franklin, and then in 2004 by Annie Wilson, Wissahickon had been heading the record down through the 18's. But with each other to race, Simonetti broke open the tight race with Sikora in the last mile to smash the 18:32 Wilson record with an 18:16. Skiora was just 12 seconds behind in 18:28. Hatboro-Horsham senior Kerry Swayne was the only other girl under 19 at 18:54. Riding a 1:30 compression behind the 2nd place, 2nd fastest-ever course time of Sikora, PA#8 Council Rock North won the 2nd John Sharp Viking Invitational with just 40 points. But unranked Cardinal O'Hara had a nice pack of their own, with a 1:05 compression behind the 4th and 5th place runs of juniors Caroline Grant, 19:00, and Beth Kelly, 19:10. Their 54 points were 20 better than PA#10 Hatboro-Horsham. All three had a scoring team average under 20, with Rock's 19:27 a very strong early performance. In the boys' race, PA#4 Central Bucks South lived up to pre-season predictions with a 16:27 team average and a sub-60 second compression behind 3rd place senior Bob Greer, 15:54. Hatboro-Horsham, missing possibly as many as two of their top five, was 2nd with 91 points, following by Holy Ghost Prep, which had taken the race out hard, with 92, and Pennridge with 93. Central Bucks East junior Josh Izewski will learn not to look back so much over the last 200 meters, but should get a pass with his first invitational win. His 15:48 was a 45-second improvement over his time in the same race last year.
John Sharp Viking Photo Galleries by Don Rich
4th Oakbourne Relays @ Oakbourne Park -- While a 2 x 2-mile relay is NOT a good gauge of a 5K XC race, it can be a help. Well, the PA #3 Unionville girls are ranked 3rd in PA in a pre-season poll, and apparently the status is deserved, especially since they didn't run everyone, winning the team total by 11 seconds over West Chester Henderson and Governor Mifflin, both teams mentioned in pre-season discussions. In the boys' race, PA#2 West Chester Henderson was a nearly 1:39 victor over PA#10 Unionville, PA#3 West Chester East had the top tandem by three seconds.
Enos Yeager Invitational @ Chambersburg HS -- It was faster than 2005, but the order was reversed. Chambersburg senior Sarah Morrison won her home opener over Big Spring's Lara Crofford on the 2.3 mile course. Morrison's 14:33 was a course record. For the boys', McConnellsburg's Chris Snyder won in 13:21, but the Chambersburg guys put five in the top six behind the 2nd place 13:26 by Channon Riggs.
McAlpin Invitational @ Episcopal Academy, Devon -- Cancelled for 2006 because of Ernesto.
SATURDAY 9/2:
Bradford junior Sarah Lonzi at the McDowell Invitational
(photo by Carl Strub)
33rd McDowell Invitational @ Brown's Farm -- Sarah Lonzi of Bradford, posted the best time of the day in horrible conditions, running a 19:19 to win the AAA Girls race, and to lead her team to a dominating win with just 26 points on a 1:54 compression. Bradford captured five of the top eight places. And the bad news for the competition... those five girls are all underclassmen. In AA Girls, it was a solo, quick first outing for sophomore Lauren Zarger of Harbor Creek. She toured the wet course in 19:30. General McLane is always strong, and a 1:08 compression is particularly impressive this early in the season. Senior Hilary Weismiller lead them to their 64-90 win over Union City with a 2nd place 20:30. For the AA Boys, North East tallied just 50 points behind a 4th place 17:12 by Garrett Gray, a junior. The race up front was quick for the conditions, as Mercyhurst Prep senior Michael Stolar ran 15:49, the best of the day, to beat fellow senior Ben Hahn of Smethport by five seconds. In the AAA Boys race, Andrew Geist, a Meadville junior, ran 16:44 for the win. But it was Cathedral Prep placing four in the top ten that helped to seal a narrow 54-57 win over Bradford, which was lead by the 2nd place run of Hared Feura in 17:08.
McDowell Photo Galleries by Carl Strub
Bear Mountain River Run @ Lock Haven University -- Cancelled for 2006 because of Ernesto.
Kyle Dawson leads the US#4 Coatesville "Men Of Black" (MOB) to a dominating win at Big Valley with just 16 points.
Only Westmont Hilltop senior Travis Dean was able to crack the MOB top five...
and he was a 6th place finisher in AA with one of the top 20 times at last year's state meet.
(photo by Karen Ward)
Big Valley Invitational @ Indian Valley MS -- US#4 Coatesville's boys ran through the rain, mud and all comers, tallying just 16 points in taking five of the top six spots and seven of the top ten. Their five-man compression was an impressive 48-second. PA#5 State College put two in the top ten and was 2nd with 68 points. Kyle Dawson won in 16:29, followed by Sean Ward, Owen Dawson, Jason Leonard and Tom Pannulla. Only Westmont-Hilltop senior Travis Dean broke up the Coatesville pack, taking 5th in 17:05. State College seniors Rick Koubek, at 17:41, and Josh Gainer at 17:50, were the Lion's first two finishers, taking 7th and 8th. Interestingly, Coatesville also took three of the first four spots in the JV race, with junior Drew Mahoney matching the 17:54 run by sophomore Chris Rosato in the varsity race, who was 9th, while senior Chad Gordon was 10th in 18:01. The State College girls were victorious with their 100 points behind the 3rd place 20:13 by Katherine Ward. Lewisburg was just two points back thank to the strong performances by two sophomores. Kiah Hardcastle took 2nd in 19:44, with Sophia Ziemian 4th in 20:25. Forest Hills junior Sarah Strayer won the race in 19:36.
Big Valley Photo Galleries by Karen Ward
At Big Valley, Junior Sarah Strayer of Forest Hills, won in 19:36, with Kiah Hardcastle,
a Lewisburg sophomore in 2nd at 19:44, and Katherine Ward,
State College, leading her Lady Lions to the team win with her 3rd place 20:13.
(photo by Karen Ward)
Fairview Invitational @ Fairview HS -- The Taylor Allderdice girls took five of the top eight spots for 27 points and the win behind the 2nd place 23:39 by Jennifer Bossinger Northwestern's Nicolette Pizzferrato won in 23:30. The Fairview boys swept 3rd through 7th place to tally just 25 points. Greg Todd was the top finisher for the team at 19:11. Aaron Weidman of Taylor Allderdice won in 18:07.
Gateway Invitational @ Boyce Park -- Placing three in the top 13, the Baldwin boys team defeated Hempfield 64-82 in a steady drizzle. David Adley was the top finisher for Baldwin, taking 3rd in 16:48, with teammates Tom Doyle and Nate Aaron in 10th (17:06) and 13th (17:21), respectively. Penn-Trafford's Josh Cristopher repeated as Gateway champ with a 16:29. In the girls' race, it was Baldwin's Kristie Dornes going 19:38, barely holding off Hempfield's Amber Valaimont, who was credited with the same time. Behind the 5th, 7th, and 8th place efforts of Anny Yaney (19:56), Leslie Kovach (20:09), and Chelsea Hoffman (20:21), Norwin was the team champ. The 2005 individual champ, Diana Filtz of Penn-Trafford, finished 6th in 20:06.
Hornet Harrier Invitational @ Hickory HS -- Neshannock junior Kacey Gibson is off to a great start, racing to an 18:52 solo win. But it was Sharon, behind the 3rd place 21:37 by junior Danielle Cerroni, that took the team title by a 54-67 score over West Middlesex. Sharon placed three in the top nine. In the boys' race, it was almost a West Middlesex sweep, as five runners placed in the top six behind the 17:24 win by senior
Maroon & Gold Classic @ Kutztown University -- Cancelled for 2006 because of Ernesto.
Shamokin Area Purple & White -- It was a Tamaqua kind of day. Not that it always rains in Tamaqua... but for the prior three years, there have been two very talented runners from Tamaqua who have made their marks on the state scene, one winning a state XC title. That title belongs to senior Isaac Dunkelberger, who had a race on his feet with Exeter's Nick Hilton, who was 2nd. Dunkelberger ran 16:43 in the monsoon conditions, 13 seconds up on Hilton. Exeter won the team title with 55 points, to beat Tamaqua by 22. The Tamaqua girls actually lost the team title at this meet on the 6th runner tiebreaker, but senior Alexa Griffiths started the scoring with one point with her 20:39. Blue Mountain took the title behind a 3rd place 21:41 by Vanessa Breslin.
Shamokin Purple & White Video by Craig Lowthert
Video of Varsity Boys and Varsity Girls races
Local newspaper story in the Republican & Herald