9/27-The Deja Vu-Two go 1-2, Koons leads wire-to-wire, Carlisle boys, Parkland girls @ Carlisle

Frances Koons is gaining confidence after a great start to her season.

Carlisle quotes from Craig Miller and Brian Fuller

Girls Varsity Challenge Race Photos

Girls Varsity Challenge Finish Photos

Boys Varsity Challenge Race Photos

Girls Varsity Champions Race Photos

Boys Varsity Champions Race Photos

Girls Junior Varsity Race Photos

Boys Junior Varsity Race Photos

Brian Fuller of Cumberland Valley, and Craig Miller, the soph from Manheim Township, battled to the finish again, and for the fourth time in six races over two years, they finished within a second of each other. Meanwhile, Allentown Central Catholic star Frances Koons took off at the gun and was never challenged. And the Carlisle boys and Parkland girls won tough races to say they're back in the hunt for state glory.

Once again, Miller and Fuller led the pack out, with Craig's twin, Brad, joining the lead group early as he gets back into racing after a broken foot last summer. ("He's only about 80% now, but at least he's back" according to Manheim Township coach Terry Lee.) Fuller got the lead with mere steps to go to go up 4-2 in the rivalry.

Derek Jennings of Solanco led the race for a portion after Miller and Fuller slowed down in the second mile. But Miller surged with about 400 to go on a small hill, and opened a gap. Fuller responded and closed as the pair headed down the closing hill toward the open finish. Fuller gained a slight lead entering the final 20 meters and pulled through for the win. "It's 4-2 me" Fuller noted after the race. The only two XC races the two have not been side by side at the finish would be considered close (5 seconds, or so) by any other measure. Fuller says it's been a rivalry since he first met Miller on the course, losing to the freshman at the 2002 Gettysburg Invitational. "It hasn't been a friendly one either," Fuller noted. "We don't talk, but it's still all in good competition." Both runners were timed in 16:00 and change.

Meanwhile, Frances Koons continued to show Pennsylvania that she has stepped it up a notch this year, pulling away from some great runners like Red Lion senior Kate Papenberg, and Chambersburg senior Kylee Schuler, to win from the gun in 18:27.

Koons is about to disappear behind another turn with under a mile remaining.

In the team competition in the Reebok Challenge Races, Carlisle used a nice pack of four medalists behind the 16:38 8th place finish of senior Nick Brousse. The Parkland girls overcame the one point start by Koons to beat Allentown Central Catholic by 10, 96 to 86. Parkland was led by the 15th and 16th place finishes of junior Katie Stepp and sophomore Erin Roberts.

Upper Merion senior Jon Gries lead his squad to a team title with 137 points in the Race of Champions varsity competition. Gries won easily, going 16:29. In the girls' Race, Ephrata's Betsy Sensenig took the lead in the 2nd mile and cruised to a 19:22 win, but Tulpehocken held off the winner's team by 18 points, taking the title with156.

Frances and her mom after another win.