Zarger, Cygan & Ziemian open strong | Emmaus, Holy Ghost Prep, and Lewisburg roll

Aug 29, 2008

Sat: At Big Valley, unranked (but receiving votes) Altoona boys win by 68 over PA#5 Coatesville. Sophia Ziemian leads PA#8 Lewisburg with wire-to-wire 18:08. Lauren Zarger and Sam Havko won the girls and boys varsity races at the McDowell Invitational. West Middlesex boys and girls roll at the Hornet Harrier Invite, each scoring 46 points. Fri: At the Viking Invitational, the PA#1 Emmaus girls placed five in the top 14 to score just 31 points, beating a field that included pre-season PA #6 Council Rock North. Lindsay Graybill won in 18:42.5. Amanda, Brianna and Christina Faust all were top ten, and in the exact order as their custom tag on their car. (no guarantees they'll finish that way in every race.) PA #9 Holy Ghost Prep dominated a strong field that included PA#10 Pennridge, who was 4th. Mike Pierce led Holy Ghost Prep with his 15:39.7 win. At the 2.3 mile Enos Yeager course in Chambersburg, Carlisle looked every bit their pre-season #7 ranking, going 1-2-3 behind Kyle Hurston's 12:36. Results also posted for Lions Inv and Hornet Harrier. More coming every day through Wednesday, including summaries, galleries, videos and stories.

08/29 By Aaron Rich In the boys race West Chester Henderson won the team competition with a time of 1:26.56. Penncrest was 2nd with a time of 1:28.13 and Abington was 3rd with a time of 1:30.37. In the girls race Downingtown East won with a time of 1:44.47. Unionville was 2nd with a time of 1:48.07 and West Chester Henderson was 3rd in 1:49.56.	6th Oakbourne Relays West Chester Henderson RESULTS POSTED	West Chester, PA
08/29 Summary by Mike Carpenter On a fast, 2.3 mile course in Chambersburg, PA, the Enos Yeager Invitational saw the PA#7 Carlisle boys win the meet easily, finishing all five scorers in the top ten, totaling 23 points. Kyle Hurston, Davey Dennison, and John Pope went 1-2-3 for Carlisle, going in 12:36, 12:43 and 12:49. In the girl’s race, Colleen Smith of Carlisle beat out Abby Wong of Northern, 15:41 to 15:57. Wong did, however, help lead Northern to a team victory, beating Chambersburg 38-54. Photo of Colleen Smith by Timothy O'Dowd	Enos Yeager Invitational Chambersburg – ONSITE COVERAGE RESULTS POSTED Tim O'Dowd Photo Gallery from Enos Yeager Inv	Chambersburg, PA
08/29 By Mike Carpenter We’ve all been waiting anxiously for the breakout weekend of the 2008 Cross Country season here in PA, and Friday we got our first glimpse of what should be an unforgettable season. Tamanend Park in Southampton, PA is home to the annual John Sharp Viking Invitational, where runners and fans alike were given quite a show. PA#1 Emmaus girl’s showed they are more than deserving of their preseason ranking of top team in the state, winning this meet easily with 31 points, 72 points ahead of the field. What makes the feat even more incredible was the competition that this race brought to the Green Hornet ladies of Emmaus, including PA#7 Council Rock North, and the notably talented girl’s squads from Central Bucks West and Hatboro Horsham, who finished 2-3-4 in the team standings. Emmaus SR Lindsey Graybill took the win in 18:43, followed closely by JR teammate Amanda Faust in 18:52. Lindsey Rheiner of Council Rock North and Kaylee Irwin of Hatboro Horsham also crossed in under 19 minutes. The Faust triplets finished 2-3-4 for the Emmaus squad, with Brianna finishing 5th overall and Christina finishing 9th overall. The JR sisters are a big reason that Emmaus will be a force to be reckoned with throughout their 2008 campaign. The boy’s from PA#9 Holy Ghost Prep started off the season right, winning the meet with only 38 points. Tested only by Hatboro Horsham’s tough squad, both teams finished all five scorers in the top 20 competitors. Holy Ghost’s Mike Pierce won the race in 15:40, an unbelievable time for this late August meet, but was tested by three other harriers under 16 minutes. Emmaus’s Tom Luff (brother of 2004 PIAA runner-up Sam Luff) ran his best race to date, finishing second in 15:51, making it clear to the state that he is someone to look out for in the 2008 season.	Fourth Annual John Sharp Viking Invitational Archbishop Wood – ONSITE COVERAGE RESULTS POSTED Don Rich Photo Gallery from John Sharp Viking Inv Viking Invite Varsity Girls Video	S outhampton, PA
08/29 By Mike Carpenter Whitehall SO Matt Kacyon, last year’s runner-up finisher, took the win this year at the Lions Invitational 5k in 16:12. The Easton boys finished 2-3-4 and took the AAA team title behind SR Issac Legget’s 2nd place finish in 16:19. Moravian Academy’s Greg Duckloe was the top AA finisher in 16:47, but the team title went to the boy’s squad from Notre Dame Green Pond, finishing 2-3 and beating Saucon Valley 51-62. The girl’s of Governor Mifflin took this year’s AAA team race with only 28 points behind their 2-3 finish, led by Molly Mitchell and Lindsay Topper who went 19:09 and 19:21, respectively. Margaret Diacont of Nazareth won in 18:50. In the AA version, Notre Dame Green Pond’s Allison Constant was the top finisher in 19:07, and the girl’s from Northwestern Lehigh won the team race, led by Lindsay Kerr who finished 3rd overall in 19:18.	Lions Invitational Cross Country Meet Moravian Academy RESULTS POSTED	Bethlehem, PA
08/29	McAlpin Invitational Episcopal Academy	Devon, PA
08/30 By Tom LaBuff In the girls varsity race, Norwin continued their run of consecutive championships with an impressive 45 point total, dominating the 16-team field, though runner-up Gateway lost their 3rd runner to a turned ankle in the 2nd mile. Leslie Kovach & Jenna Gigliotti of Norwin were 1-2 respectively from wire to wire as the Knights served notice that they will be a force to be reckoned with in District 7 (WPIAL). Baldwin ran away from the field, totaling 33 points and placing 5 runners in the top ten, among them T.J. Hobart who finished 8th despite an asthma episode mid-race. The Highlanders easily outdistanced runnerup Gateway (96). What the boys race lacked in terms of quality teams, it more than made up in terms of the quality of the individual performances. Though he led from start to finish, winner D.J. Krystek of Gateway ran in a tight pack with Hobart & Michael Cain of Baldwin, Brad Hough of West Allegheny, Conner Weis of Fox Chapel, & Matt Springer of Riverview for two miles before the race settled into a battle with Cain for the gold medal over the final mile. By Aaron Rich Gateway's D.J. Kryskek won the boys varsity race with a time of 17:34. Michael Cain, Baldwin, was 2nd in 17:42. Brad Hough, West Allegheny, rounded out the top-3 with a time of 18:00. Baldwin ran away with the team title, beating Gateway 33 to 96. In the girls race Leslie Kovach, Norwin, won, finishing just ahead of teammate Jenna Gigliotti, 20:20 to 20:22. Baldwin's Kristie Domis was 3rd in 21:30. Norwin won the team title with 45 points.	20th Gateway Invitational Gateway HIGHLIGHTS POSTED	Monroeville, PA
08/30 By Aaron Rich Jon Bogert, Liberty, took the win with a fast time of 15:55. Crestwood senior Robert Micikas finished 2nd with a time of 16:14. Victor Costello, North Pocono, was 3rd with a time of 16:36. In the girls race super soph Jess Cygan, Liberty, showed that she is back in form after a quiet track season, winning with a time of 18:34. Kirstin Schafer, Crestwood, was 2nd with a time of 19:12. Despite the lack of team scores Liberty looked very strong, taking the 3-4-5-9 positions behind Jess for a potential score of 22 points.	34th Cliff Robbins Invitational Wyoming Valley Striders RESULTS POSTED	Wilkes-Barre, PA
08/30 Flash summary and photo of Lauren Zarger by Carl Strub Harbor Creek's Lauren Zarger and Fairview's Sam Havko swere the individual winners. North East, boys team winner, followed by Fairview and Butler, Girls team winner was Union City, followed by Fort LeBoeuf and McDowell. By Aaron Rich Lauren Zarger, Harbor Creek, started her season strong with a winning time of 18:45. Katie Perkins, North East, ran strong for a frosh, finishing 2nd in 19:35. Brittany Kaltenbaugh, Fort Leboeuf, was 3rd in 19:49. Union City won the team race with 110 points and Fort Leboeuf was 2nd with 142 points. Sam Havko, Fairview, is looking strong with a winning time of 16:01.9. North East teammates Alex Beardsley and Zachary Mix were 2nd and 3rd with times of 16:29.7 and 16:31.2.	35th McDowell Invitational McDowell – ONSITE COVERAGE RESULTS POSTED Carl Strub Photo Gallery from Erie McDowell Inv	Erie, PA
08/30 Above: New MS 2.0M record from Briana Hetrick, Northern Lebanon in photo courtesy of Aaron Russell and LHU - note the incredible pack from Central Cambria. Can you say reloading? By Aaron Rich In the boys varsity race Shawn Lake, Sayre, took the win with a time of 16:13.57, winning by over 30 seconds ahead of Nick Patton, Canton, 16:46.08. Dave Ozarowski, Archbishop Curley, was 3rd in 16:54.65. Canton won the team title with 46 points, beating out Sayre who had 52 points. Katie Sick, Millville, won the race by a huge margin, running a winning time of 19:15.62. Beth Walker was 2nd in 20:32.73, leading a charge of teammates as Hanna Robinson was 3rd in 21:09.92 and Rose Velazquez was 4th in 21:52.43. Sayre rode that wave to the team win with 42 points. Troy finished 2nd in the team standings with score of 66. Northern Lebanon's Brianna Hetrick took 1:19 off the middle school record in the 2 mile race (12:04).	Bear Mountain River Run Lock Haven University RESULTS POSTED Lock Haven University Photo Gallery from Bear Mountain River Run	Lock Haven, PA
08/30 By Aaron Rich In the girls varsity race some of the top runners in the state clashed for the first time. Sophia Ziemian, Lewisburg, made an early statement, winning in 18:08. Forest Hills soph Leah Anne Wirfel was 2nd in 18:31 and State College soph Chloe Schmidt was 3rd in 18:51. Lewisburg looked very strong up front, placing 3 runners in the top-5, and beat State College 67 to 94. In the boys varsity race Alex Brazinski, Elk County Catholic, won the race with a time of 16:25. Dubois Area's Bud Plaszenski was 2nd in 16:31 and Penns Valley's Matt Brooker ran 3rd in 16:34. Altoona Area upended a Coatesville squad that is ranked 5th in the state by a score of 51 to 119. Altoona received votes in the rankings.	Big Valley Invitational Indian Valley – ONSITE COVERAGE RESULTS POSTED Don Rich Photo Gallery from Big Valley Inv Big Valley Invite Varsity Girls Video Big Valley Invite Varsity Boys Video	Reedsville, PA
08/30 By Aaron Rich Adam Shrawder and his West Middlesex teammates are ready for the season ahead. Adam won the varsity boys race with a time of 17:15.0 Evan Miller, Laurel, was 2nd in 17:37.0 and Ryan Haylett, Cochranton, was 3rd in 17:41.0 West Middlesex won the team title with 5 runners in the top-20. They topped Cochranton 46 to 86. West Middlesex girls also dominated, with all 7 runners inside the top-21, winning with 46 points. Hickory High was 2nd with 116. Hickory High's Morgan Richards, a frosh, won the race in 20:55. Fellow frosh Dana Cerroni, Sharon, was 2nd in 21:27.	Hornet Harrier Invitational Hickory RESULTS POSTED	Hermitage, PA
08/30 By Aaron Rich Conrad Weiser boys owned this race, placing their top-5 in the first 6 runners to win the team title with a score of 17 points. Springfield Delco was 2nd with 63 points. Zach Barker, Clint Keller, and James Romano were 1st-3rd with times of 17:30.79, 17:31.00, and 17:31.20. Boyertown won the girls race with 53 points over Oley Valley, 82 points. Boyertown's Elizabeth Simpson won the individual race in 20:52.60. Jodie Kitchell, Daniel Boone, was 2nd in 21:21.53. Boyertown's Sarah Mulvey was 3rd in 21:26.97.	Maroon & Gold Classic Kutztown University RESULTS POSTED	Kutztown, PA
08/30	Shamokin Area Purple & White Shamokin Area	Coal Township, PA

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