Heading the class is AAA state champion, Jake Brophy. The
Central Bucks East senior enters the race as the top returner. He was fifth a
year ago (the second PA runner across the line), qualifying him for Nationals
in San Diego.The goal this year for Brophy? Win the Northeast.
"I don't think I'm at my physical peak yet," Brophy (above) said at states.
He's tailored his
training to leave something on the table for Foot Lockers. Despite not fully
reaching his peak at states, he still outsprinted the Hoeys to claim his second
straight state championship in the AAA race. In each of his major races this
year, Brophy has allowed the race to come to him. He's won every time. We'll
see Saturday what kind of tactics he'll bring to the table as his shoots for
the win.
Lake Lehman's Dominic Hockenbury (right) has had a monster 2015 and
he'd love to cap it off with a top ten finish on Saturday. Hockenbury came up
just short of nationals last year, finishing in 15th and he's hungry
for a better 
result this year. He's been undefeated this year, including a
sub-16 performance at Hershey, where he won the AA state title. A fast pace
could bode well for the Syracuse recruit. Expect Hockenbury to put himself in
the mix and possibly pull out his best race of the season.
Pennsylvania also has a host of "bubble" contenders. Among
that crowd are Peters Township's Nick Wolk and JP McCaskey's Nathan Henderson.
Wolk had a breakout XC season. He ran a solid 4:22 to get
fourth in District 7 on the track in the spring, but really put together a
strong XC campaign. Before states, he won every race except Foundation in
Hershey, where he was second to Brophy. At states, Wolk took fourth,
out-kicking Downingtown West's Josh Hoey and Henderson down the stretch. His
15:53 at states produced a 54 second delta from 2014. He ran at Foot Locker
last year, so he knows the course. He'll certainly be in the conversation on
Saturday.
Henderson is another one to watch and it's not just because
of his hair. The McCaskey junior won in impressive fashion at the District 3
championship. He broke away around the midway point and clocked in at 15:38 on
the rolling hills of Big Spring. Wolk nipped him at the line at states, but
Henderson is riding a lot of momentum into this weekend. A top ten finish is
well in his ability.
After that, a number of PA guys will be vying for longshot
bids. Plum senior Jake Susalla was eighth in AAA at states, going sub-16 after
finishing fourth at the District 7 meet. That signals that his training is
right on schedule to contend in New York.
Another threat is Zach Lefever of Ephrata. He missed states
reportedly due to appendicitis, but Lefever still went sub-16 three times this
season. He was second to Henderson at District 3, running a 15:52 at Big
Spring. Assuming his health is in order, he'll have a shot.
Zach Lefever (left), Nathan Henderson (center) and Nick Wolk will be among those vying for one of ten spots at Foot Locker Northeast on Saturday.
Wyomissing's Jack DiCintio won at District 3 in AA, but was
18th at states. He went out hard at Hershey and paid later in the
race. Still, his 15:59 for the win at districts shouldn't be taken lightly. Other notable runners making the trip to New York this weekend are LaSalle's Eddie Goebel, Mt. Lebanon's Todd Gunzenhauser, Pleasant Valley's Seth Slavin, and the state's top frosh Michael Morris from Hershey.
Check out the full list of entries here. Today was the last day runners could sign up for the race.
