William Tennent Invitational - Meet Preview
Girls' Race
Penn Charter's Emma Zwall is the one to beat on Saturday at William Tennent. The sophomore won at the George School and then went 18:29 to take fifth in a loaded Paul Short Brown Race. She's shown that she's the top PAISAA runner this season and she'll be looking to keep it rolling into Saturday, where she is the defending champion. Last year was a big breakthrough for Zwall at Tennent.
She'll have challengers, though. Neshaminy's Kaylee McCullough was second in the White Race at Paul Short on Saturday. Sarah Raubenheimer of Villa Maria took second at the Council Rock Invite a few weeks ago, running a big PR of 19:48. She has some good sleeper potential in this field. The same goes for Saint Basil ninth grader Alina LaForest, who won the Briarwood frosh 3K and took second at Westtown this season.
Council Rock South's Marisa Kilgarriff, Mount Saint Joseph's Megan Ciasullo, Upper Moreland's Jill Kelly, and Penn Charter's Mary McDavid will also be ones to watch in this strong field on a usually quick Tennent course.
In the team race, Penn Charter will be the team to beat. The PA-Independent #1 squad has some good depth after the individual favorite Zwall. Manheim Township (2017 AAA state runners-up), Council Rock South, Conestoga, and Neshaminy will look to contend for the win.
Boys' Race
Jeffrey Love of the George School will be looking to return to the winner's circle this weekend in Warminster. After winning his home invite, the senior took fifth at the Council Rock Invite. He'll be one to watch for this weekend at Tennent.
The field is strong, though. The Manheim Township duo of Evan Dorenkamp and Ian Miller should be in the mix for the win. The pair ran well at last week's Carlisle Invite; Dorenkamp was 12th overall. Twin Valley's Dylan Servis will be strong as well. He was fourth -- ahead of Love -- at the CR Invite. Council Rock South's Collin Ochs, Penn Charter's Finnegan Glew, and Pennridge's Matt Eissler should also be in contention near the front.
The team race will be an interesting battle between some teams trying to prove they are "states caliber" here in the first weekend of October. Twin Valley and Council Rock South (which matched up at the Council Rock Invite with CR South taking the win and TV finishing second) are the top teams entered. Manheim Township, Pennsbury, Pennridge, and Hatboro-Horsham are also among the solid squads in the field.