By BARBARA KROHN
KUTZTOWN -- Seniors claimed the top two spots in both the Gold and Blue races at PTXC7.
In the Gold race it was 2014 PIAA Class AA champion Dominic Hockenbury winning in the national elite time of 15:53.97 with Red Land's Zach Seiger coming in second (16:08.34).
Hockenbury was straightforward about his objective Saturday.
"This is the first real true effort to take the rust off ," said the Lake Lehman senior. "Today we were hoping to take home a win."
While PTXC 6 featured temps in the 90s, this year's race featured almost ideal conditions for the 9:40 race -- cool and overcast.
"It felt good," said Hockenbury. "The weather was really good.
"I felt real strong. My form felt good and controlled."
Which is how the defending state champ assesses his progress.
"I judge how I'm doing by how I feel. We've been doing a lot of hard training and I think I'm right on."
Hockenbury credited Seiger for pushing him in the race.
"Zach was on me. He was pushing me the first mile or so. He had a great race. He was there the whole way."
Seiger was also happy after the race.
"It's always a great race," he said. "It's a season highlight."
And when he lined up at the start he knew that this year would be somewhat of a rematch of PTXC 6 when Hockenbury took second and Seiger took third.
"When I saw us both lining up in the boxes I knew," said Seiger. "We were both shoulder to shoulder at the start."
With his national elite time Seiger is setting his sites on the end of the season.
"I focus on states and the Footlocker is where I want to peak.""
Stonebridge won the Gold team title.
Blue race
Like gold winner Hockenbury Central Cambria senior Bryce Descavish who won the Blue race (16:32.72), had come in second place at PTXC6.
"I wanted to win since I got second last year," said Descavish.
"My strategy was to hang with the front pack. It was nice to have a solid group to run with. You put yourself in the pack and see how you do."
And for the Red Devils runner there was going to be no holding back.
"I'm a senior. You've got to go big. My one goal is to win the state championship."
Conestoga's PJ Murray came in second (16:47.90).
"The race felt great," said Murray. "We raced together for the first two miles -- that water tower is really tough -- he got me at the last hill.
"It was my first time on the course."
Murray, who was seeded first coming in, was hoping to win and was also hoping top-seeded team would win but that too was not meant to be as the Pioneers took fourth. Still the Red Devils seniors was pleased.
"I was happy with the result. It's still early but it's a good way to start the season."
Next week Central Cambria travels to the NC State invitational.