Four of PA\'s top returning harriers went one-two in each large school race at Gettysburg, 9/6. And if these races are any indication, then it\'s going to be as close this year, as last.
Kylee Schuler, Senior, Chambersburg
PTXC: It\'s your final year of high school. Did it fly by?
Schuler: Yeah, it definitely went fast. I remember back when I was a freshman, the seniors told me it would go fast, and it flew by.
PTXC: How was your summer training?
Schuler: I definitely increased my mileage, and I lifted weights on more of a program schedule. I feel a lot stronger this season that previous years.
PTXC: Tell me about the race today.
Schuler: From the beginning, I went out pretty hard, and she (Janelle Thomas, Cedar Cliff) was behind me. Then we were neck-and-neck throughout the whole race until about the last half mile. We were pushing each other the whole way. Then I don\'t know what happened. She pulled away a little bit and I somehow didn\'t stay up with her. I did feel good today. I just didn\'t have the last gear to go with her. I think I have to improve my speed a little bit more. Enough to finish races
PTXC: But you still have quite a while until States.
Schuler: Yeah, that\'s what I\'m focusing on, the State meet. My main goal is to do well at States. The past two years I haven\'t had very good State races. I don\'t know what happened to me last year. (31st). I guess I just had a bad day, because my whole season went pretty well until that meet.
PTXC: How\'s the team look?
Schuler: We\'re looking really good. We had four of the top 30, and the 5th wasn\'t far behind. We have a young team, including two freshmen who are really good (both under 20:00, placing 8th and 9th). We\'re looking to do really well.
Janelle Young, sophomore, Cedar Cliff
PTXC: For your first race of your junior year, that a good start. What are your season goals?
Young: To finish better than 7th at States, probably top three, because Kylee (Schuler) and Kate Papenberg are going to be there. They\'re my biggest competition here.
PTXC: And Francis Koons?
Young: I thought she graduated. If she didn\'t, she\'ll be there too. I just want to give it my best.
PTXC: After a breakthrough sophomore year, what\'s the biggest thing that has changed from last season until this season?
Young: I feel like I belong in the top. Last year as a sophomore there was a lot of competition in front of me, and with many of them graduated, I am just hoping to take their position.
PTXC: What did you do to improve this summer?
Young: I did a little more mileage
PTXC: Talk about today\'s race.
Young: We were actually head-to-head. I don\'t think anyone wanted to take the lead. Since this was the first race together, we had no idea. I just wanted to stay close, and not let her go. Then with about a half mile to go, I tried to pull away, but I knew she was right behind me.
Brian Fuller, Senior, Cumberland Valley
PTXC: He gapped you early. Knowing that you two finished 4th and 5th at States in 2002 in the same time, what was your race plan?
Fuller: My plan was to go out conservatively, and see if he went out too hard. And that\'s what he did. Then when I saw that he had a lead, I just gradually worked my way back to him. When I caught him just before two miles, I decided to see if I could outkick him. But it just didn\'t work out that way this time.
PTXC: What are you season goals?
Fuller: With Ian Gottesfeld, the state champ back, and Ian Fitzgerald, both of whom finished aheadof me, I\'m just hoping to run with them and see how it goes.
PTXC: How was your summer training?
We upped the mileage a bit to 40 miles per week. Last year we ran 30-something. So I am hoping the additional base will help me hold my pace better late in races.
Craig Miller, sophomore, Manheim Township
PTXC: You had a good lead at a mile that disappeared by two miles. What was the strategy?
Miller: I went out hard, maybe a little too hard. I knew Brian would be there, so when he caught me, I
felt comfortable and just decided to run with him and see if I could win with my kick.
PTXC: What kind of mileage did you do this season?
Miller: I ran about 450 mile this summer.
PTXC: What are your season goals?
Miller: I just want to run with the same guys I did last year and see how it goes.
