Foot Locker Northeast Regional - Boys' Preview
In 2016, Pennsylvania sent four boys to San Diego matching the state's most national qualifiers since 2012 when it also sent four. Three of those four (Noah Affolder, Nathan Henderson, and Zach Skolnekovich) graduated and the other (Sam Affolder) transferred out of state. Getting another four boys to nationals will be a tall order, but PA will bring a lot of talent to Van Cortlandt on Saturday.
Rusty Kujdych of Neshaminy will look to cap off his dream senior season with a top ten spot on Saturday. He's been the top Pennsylvania runner in every race this season. He won at Briarwood, Foundation, SOLs, District 1, and the PIAA State XC Championships (AAA) in Hershey. Kujdych, a Georgetown signee, hasn't shied away from competition all season and knowing that big meet atmosphere could pay off. He was also fourth at the Manhattan HS Invitational (4K) at Van Cortlandt Park earlier this season.
Another strong contender is Butler's Noah Beveridge. The senior and Syracuse-bound harrier had a strong season that included a WPIAL title and a second place finish at states in AAA. He was 21st at FLNE last season and that experience will bode well for him in this difficult race.
These two could contend for the overall win. Dalton Hengst, a Pennsylvania resident that attends high school at Maryland's McDonogh School, took fifth at FLNE last year, earning a trip to San Doego. He beat Kujdych at Paul Short and won at the Great American XC Festival in North Carolina. He should be in the mix for the win, though his one "off race" of the season came at Van Cortlandt where he took ninth at the Manhattan HS Invitational (4K). But he's an experienced and talented racer that will be going for the win Saturday.
Hengst and Drew Thompson of Connecticut are the only returning national qualifiers from last year. In fact, only three from the top 20 from last year's race are entered this season. So ultimately this field is wide open and there's plenty of spots up for grabs.
Two others from the top five in AAA at states are entered. Mechanicsburg's Morgan Cupp ran a great race at Hershey to place fourth overall. The District 3 champ has gotten better and better all season and we'll see how he performs on the biggest stage yet. Wallenpaupack's Tyler Wirth was only in his first XC season, but the junior has had a terrific fall, capped off with a fifth place finish at states. Don't count out the XC newcomer, who has performed well at every race this season.
Bishop Shanahan's Josh Hoey, who led his Downingtown West team to the NXN-Northeast title in 2015 with his seventh place finish will return to a regional meet in his senior year. Hoey went 15:12 to take second at the District 1 Championships and then placed seventh at states in AAA. He's got 1:49 800 meter speed, so look for Hoey to be in the mix in the final stretch on Saturday. His younger brother Jonah Hoey is also in the field looking to gain some experience at Van Cortlandt.
Photo by David Beyerle
Other medalists from AAA from the PIAA State Championships in this field include State College's Mitchell Etter, Chartiers Valley's Czar Tarr, and Butler's Brett Brady. In AA, South Fayette's Sam Snodgrass will look for a strong showing at regionals after the WPIAL champ ended up 21st at states. Grove City's Jonah Powell, who was third at states in AA, will looking to place high as well.
Jenkintown's Jack Miller and Holy Cross's Andrew Healey are in the field. Miller was third at states in 1A, while Healey took fourth. Elk County Catholic's Ben Hoffman and Penns Valley's Colton Sands are other top ten finishers from states in 1A. PAISAA champion Elias Lindgren of Episcopal Academy and PAISAA runner-up Peter Borger of Malvern Prep will both be looking to make some noise on the regional level.
Also watch for Hempfield's Christian Groff, Greensburg Salem's Mark Brown, Juniata's Garrett Baublitz, and Wilson's Jacob Underwood on Saturday in the Bronx.