Spiked Shoe quotes from Soder, Koons, Mock and Spooner
Laura Cummings of NE#2 Bay Shore NY, and a 2002 FL Finalist, leads PA's Frances Koons, Allentown Central Catholic, on the way to a 5:24 first mile.
The Spiked Shoe may now be known as the Alphabetical Invite, as every varsity team was divided by the first letter of their school name, given the OK to race more kids, and placed in races many of the coaches and athletes found less than acceptable. Two athletes in particular were left without the competition they came to race. The other two races were much closer. And 2001 AAA State Champ Dan Mazzocco won the men's 5.2 mile race.
Frances Koons of Allentown Central Catholic, who earlier this week broke the course record of a PA legend, Janelle Thomas, was disappointed to learn that one of the nation's top teams, Saratoga Springs, NY, would not be competing at this year's race, as they did in 2002. Koons was looking forward to the test against Nicole Blood. (By the alpha system, they wouldn't have raced anyway.) But two days before the race she learned about a team that comes pretty close. "Bay Shore is a pretty good substitute, especially with Laura Cumming." (Bay Shore is ranked #2 in the Northeast pre-season by The Harrier, and Cummings was 4th at Foot Lockers in 2002 in 17:47.) So the race was on, and Koons gave it a great effort, going 18:18 on the water-logged, slippery course, to Cumming's 18:09. Bay Shore easily won the "Blue" team title, placing five in the top fifteen for 42 points. Governor Mifflin (which beat Wyomissing in a meet earlier this week for the first time in four years) was 2nd with 80 points.
In the boys' "Blue" race, Brian Soder, Harbor Creek, and Chris Spooner, Lewisburg, (defending AA champ) knew they had a race. Spooner had run a bad race in 2002 on this course, and wanted to make amends. Soder was coming off a course record which erased one of Andy Weilacher marks, and wanted a repeat of 2002 where he beat Spooner. But with under a mile to go, and Soder and Spooner running together, Soder took a big spill on the side of a sand trap. He made up the ground, but "the effort took its toll, and I was knocked out of my rhythm." Spooner went on to run 15:52 for the win, with Soder 13 seconds back. Carlisle, behind the gutsy races of Nick and Stephen Brousse, who went 3rd and 6th, took the team title with 65 points.
Dave Mock of Westmont Hilltop, and Kate Papenberg of Red Lion, weren't as lucky. Both came to race everyone at the meet. Both were left with partially hollow wins. Mock said the only reason he entered the race was "to race against some of the guys I see at States." He went 16:09 for the win. Red Lion took the team title in the boys' "white" race with 92 points.
In the girls' "white" race, Kate Papenberg had an early lead, and cruised to an 18:54 win. Teammate Erin Zeller, a junior, was 3rd in 19:25. North Allegheny won the team title with 65 points behind the veteran leadership of senior Amy Ruffolo, 2nd in 19:14, and sophomore Kelley O'Brien, 4th in 19:25.