It's been quite a season for the Pennsbury girls cross country team.
The Falcons missed out on qualifying for NXN last season, but came back determined in 2015 to return to Portland. They returned six of seven from last year's team, including five seniors. This year was the year to do it.
"I just kept thinking to myself how much I wanted to be back in Portland racing at Nationals and not streaming the race from my computer back in Yardley," senior Meri Twomey said, referring to the disappointment of not making it to Portland in 2014.
The 2015 season started with dominating wins at the George School Invitational and the Paul Short Run Brown Race. Next, they were second to New York powerhouse Fayetteville-Manlius at the Manhattan Invitational at New York's Van Cortlandt Park. Then the Falcons took spots 1-7 to win the Suburban One League National Conference title. They followed that up with a District One AAA win before taking their fourth AAA state crown in five years. That, of course, was capped off with an individual state victory for Olivia Sargent. Last Saturday, "Lower Bucks XC" scored just 59 points to win NXN Northeast from Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, New York. It's the teams' second win at the regional championship.
Their season culminates Saturday when the seven runners take the line for Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon. The girls are out enjoying the Pacific Northwest now, but we kind enough to answer some questions for us before tomorrow's race. Here's what all seven girls had to say about the season (photos by Patty Morgan and Don Rich):
Bailey Balmer - Senior
Balmer's season highlights: Balmer, a four-year varsity member of Pennsbury, has broken 20 at every race this season. She finished sixth in the SOL National and 24th in District One AAA, running 19:01, just three seconds off her 5K PR. Balmer finished right behind teammate Maddie Sauer at NXR to place 44th in the region.
PennTrackXC: What do you think were the keys to success this season?
Bailey Balmer: The keys to success this season were the little things. Our coaches always remind us to do the little things, which means: stretch, hydrate, ice, eat healthy, and to go to bed as early as you can after your homework is finished. Another key to success was to work as a TEAM always and to make sure to encourage one another and trust our teammates.
PTXC: What has been the most enjoyable part of this year?
BB: The most enjoyable part of this year was winning the state meet. There are 5 seniors on varsity so it was really special to accomplish that for the last time wearing a Pennsbury cross country uniform. Another major part was winning NXR. We know we had to make it back to Portland and work hard as a whole
PTXC: Talk about the bond of this team and how important that has been.
BB: We have a major bond because most of us have been running together since freshman year. This bond will never be broken. We have tons of inside jokes and have experienced the good and the bad with each other. We are always there for each other whether someone needs a laugh during a workout or someone is stressed out or nervous before a race.
PTXC: After missing out on Portland last year, talk about the motivation to come back and make it this time around.
BB: We knew right away one of our goals was to come back and crush it at NXR. After the regional race last year, we did not want to feel disappointed again. We knew we had to run with full hearts this year to accomplish our goal ---> NXN bound!
Rachel Estey - Sophomore
Ester's season highlights: The sophomore followed up an impressive freshman campaign with another solid season. Estey ran her season-best 5K time at the Paul Short Run, where she place 31st in the Brown Race. She took 38th in the premiere race at the prestigious Manhattan College Invitational. Estes earned All-SOL honors with a seventh place finish at SOLs, was 79th in District One and 124th in the state.
PTXC: What do you think were the keys to success this season?
Rachel Estey: How well your season goes greatly depends on your process. Making sure that you and your teammates are healthy is obviously a main key to a successful season. Also, close relationships with the other girls and lots of love and support from each other are extremely important.
PTXC: What has been the most enjoyable part of this year?
RE: The most enjoyable part of this year has been from going from states to regionals. We had a lot of fun at states and after states when we went to Chocolate World and celebrating at home. As our training progressed, we grew even closer and got more and more excited. Regionals was really nerve-racking, but very fun and exciting. Being able to go father than I've ever been and come here is the icing on the cake.
PTXC: Talk about the bond of this team and how important that has been.
RE: The bond that we share on the team is what makes this trip to NXN possible. We just have so much love and support for each other. If your feeling depressed, frustrated, afraid, or upset in any way, the other girls are always there to pick you back up again, Together , we get really excited, pumped, and motivated. We laugh together, we cry together, and we love together. This team is a family.
PTXC: After missing out on Portland last year, talk about the motivation to come back and make it this time around.
RE: All last year I had been told about NXN and gotten really excited to go. When we didn't qualify last year, we were very upset. I can clearly remember crying most of the 2 ½ hour car ride home, and I know I'm not the only one who did so. Coming into this year, it was my last chance to make it to NXN with 5 of my teammates. This is the last year that we can all run together, so we want to go as far and long as possible.
Hannah Molloy - Senior
Molloy's season highlights: Molloy has been the model of consistent improvement during her career at Pennsbury's. The Iona-signee finished 23rd, 10th, 8th and 6th in the state meet during her career. 2015 has been her best year yet. She was seventh at Paul Short, second to her teammate Olivia Sargent at SOLs, and fourth in the district before her sixth place run at states. Her District One performance included a sub-18 5K. At NXN Northeast, Molloy blazed an 18:33 through the rainy slush at Bowdoin Park to take fourth in the region.
PTXC: What do you think were the keys to success this season?
Hannah Molloy: The keys to success this season were definitely staying focused and knowing that nothing's going to be easy to accomplish.
PTXC: What has been the most enjoyable part of this year?
HM: Winning NXR and the State meet were definitely the most enjoyable parts of this season. But, it's not over yet!
PTXC: Talk about the bond of this team and how important that has been.
HM: The bond on our team is something that will never go away. It's pretty cool when you get to experience some of the best moments of your life with your 6 best friends.
PTXC: After missing out on Portland last year, talk about the motivation to come back and make it this time around.
HM: After missing Portland last year I think we all did not want to go through that feeling again. We all wanted to redeem ourselves from last year. During the race on Saturday I just kept thinking about how disappointed I was last year when we missed NXN by a few spots.
Olivia Sargent - Senior
Sargent's season highlights: 2015 has been a big year for Olivia Sargent. She was second at the Paul Short Run in the Brown Race. At SOLs, she cruised to the win in a 5K PR of 17:33. She took second to fellow NXN competitior Aislinn Devlin at the District One AAA championships, but outlasted her one week later to win her first state title individually. She led Lower Bucks XC to the win at NXN Northeast with a second place performance. She joined her sister Sara as individual state champs. She led Lower Bucks XC to the win at NXN Northeast with a second place performance. She also committed to run at the University of Virginia. This will be her fourth time running at Nike Cross Nationals.
PTXC: What do you think were the keys to success this season?
Olivia Sargent: Focusing on the process of the entire season as a whole rather than getting caught up in the moment or with the results of a race
PTXC: What has been the most enjoyable part of this year?
OS: Probably winning States both individually and as a TEAM. That was a special moment for me and my TEAM and it is a memory that I will never forget!
PTXC: Talk about the bond of this team and how important that has been.
OS: If one of us is having an off day at practice or comes stressed out, we always try to motivate and cheer each other up. We know how important it is work together and have fun, and I think it really shows when it comes time to race
PTXC: After missing out on Portland last year, talk about the motivation to come back and make it this time around.
OS: Even though I went last year as an individual, I was just as motivated as the rest of the girls to make it back as a TEAM this year! NXN is such an amazing meet and experience, and I'm so lucky to be able to share this with my teammates.
Maddie Sauer - Senior
Sauer's season highlights: Sauer, another four-year varsity senior, has been key for the Falcons this season. She was fourth in the SOL National and then placed 57th a week later at District One. Sauer ran a great race at states to place 40th in a time of 19:32 on the tough Hershey Parkview course. She was a strong fifth runner at NXN Northeast, placing 38th to help the team advance to Portland.
PTXC: What do you think were the keys to success this season?
Maddie Sauer: The keys to success were sticking to the process and staying focused.
PTXC: What has been the most enjoyable part of this year?
MS: The most enjoyable part was definitely winning States again. It was great seeing all our hard work pay off (and getting to go to Chocolate World after!)
PTXC: Talk about the bond of this team and how important that has been.
MS: To be successful we know we need to work together. We all work hard as a TEAM, but we also have a lot of fun.
PTXC: After missing out on Portland last year, talk about the motivation to come back and make it this time around.
MS: This year we were even more determined since we were so disappointed last year when we didn't qualify. It was especially important to us since there are five seniors on the team so for a lot of us it was our last opportunity to go to Nationals.
Meri Twomey - Senior
Twomey's season highlights: 2015 has been another successful season for Twomey. The senior has been a consistent performer for the Falcons. She was seventh at George School, 29th at Paul Short, and fifth at SOLs. At the District One championships, she went under 19 to give her a 17th place finish. The back half of her postseason has been even better. Twomey was 28th at states and then 24th at NXN Northeast to help solidify the Falcons' spot in nationals. Let's see if she can continue the upward trend in Portland.
PTXC: What do you think were the keys to success this season?
Meri Twomey: The keys to success this season were definitely doing everything with our goals in mind and working together as a TEAM. When the whole team has the same goals and is willing to push one another to achieve them, we are able to achieve big things.
PTXC: What has been the most enjoyable part of this year?
MT: Winning States and Regionals were without a doubt some of the best moments of the season. These were two of our biggest goals and being able to come together as a team and come out on top is something that I think we will all remember for the rest of our lives.
PTXC: Talk about the bond of this team and how important that has been.
MT: Having your friends by your side every practice and race is something that is hard to come across, and this is definitely one of the most important aspects of our team. Whether it is making each other laugh during a hard workout or keeping one another calm before a race, being friends & also teammates enables us to always keep the fun of running while also staying focusedPTXC: After missing out on Portland last year, talk about the motivation to come back and make it this time around.
MT: The feeling after last year's regional race was one that none of us wanted to experience again. Going into the race this year, I had that memory in the back of my mind alongside the awesome memories from NXN sophomore year, and I just kept thinking to myself how much I wanted to be back in Portland racing at Nationals and not streaming the race from my computer back in Yardley.
Mary Webb - Junior
Webb's season highlights: Webb is the newcomer to the bunch. She is the only member of this year's team who wasn't on the team last year. But after an impressive spring on the track that included a sub-5 mile, Webb joined in on the XC fun this year. She's played a pivotal role. She's spent the season knocking on the doorstep of teammate Hannah Molloy. She's bridged the gap between the three and two runners each race, and at NXN Northeast, Molloy and Webb finished fourth and fifth respectively, just four seconds off each other. Webb, a junior, was eighth at districts and then ninth in the state a week later. I'd say she's fit in nicely.
PTXC: What do you think were the keys to success this season?
Mary Webb: I think the keys to success were focusing on one race at a time and not looking too far into the future because it is the little things that are important in the whole process. Confidence and belief in ourselves and every teammate was really important to this season's success.
PTXC: What has been the most enjoyable part of this year?
MW: The most enjoyable part of this year was the whole States experience. From the trip to Hershey on Friday to the race Saturday and then riding the firetrucks the last few miles back to the school, the whole trip was unforgettable. I was so happy to be a part of something so special with such an amazing group of girls. I was happy to be involved / help the five seniors end their PIAA XC careers with another State title
PTXC: Talk about the bond of this team and how important that has been.
MW: The bond of the team has played a huge role in the team's success this season. The closeness of our team really shows when one/two of us may be having an off day either at practice or a race, the rest of the team is right there to cheer them up and reassure that it is only one race and one part of the whole process. Knowing that you have a group of six girls right there for you every day is amazing. Even though this is my 1st XC season, the girls made me feel comfortable and welcomed right away which showed me right away how amazing this group was.
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The Pennsbury girls will look to cap off their season on a high note this Saturday in Portland, Oregon at Nike Cross Nationals. Also competing from Pennsylvania on the girls' side are Downingtown West junior Aislinn Devlin and Unionville junior Anna Juul. Follow @PennTrackXC and @MileSplit on Twitter for live updates as the race happens.