Up front, it was a 1-2 punch from Penns Valley, as teammates Colton Sands and Brendan Colwell led the way with Sands capturing the state title. The Wincheter Thurston boys, a perennial power, returned to the top of the state, capturing the team title with 113 points.
It was the Penns Valley show up front up in the first boys race of the day, Class A. Colton Sands and his PV teammate Brendan Colwell ran to a 1-2 finish, for a dominant display by the junior pair. The teammates worked together to gain some separation on the rest of the field. In the final kilometer, Sands started to pull away and rode that speed to the finish in 15:56, which was the third fastest time of the day. Colwell ran 16:05 for second.
Sands won an outdoor 3,200 meter state title in Class AA this past fall, but on Saturday, he ran to his first XC state title. He still has Foot Locker Northeast left, but this caps off a PA schedule that saw Sands continually get better, including a 15:14 to win District 6.
Andrew Healey of Holy Cross posted another strong state meet performance, taking third in 16:22, his third straight top four finish at the state meet. Marion Center's Hunter Armstrong ran a huge race to take fourth in 16:28, just 8 seconds off his 5K PR. Ian Zimmerman of Northern Bedford came home fifth in 16:37.
The
Winchester Thurston boys returned to the top of the state on Saturday with a solid full team performance. It's the Bears third title in six years, adding 2019's trophy to the one's the program won in 2014 and 2016.
Scott Routledge led the way for WT, placing sixth in 16:40, following up a fifth place finish from last year.
Patrick Malone also earned a state medal, taking 23rd in 16:59, while
Gus Robinson (28th in 17:16) and
Sean Heintzleman (38th in 17:35) supplied high finishes for the Bears.
Benjamin Bermann rounded out the scorers with a 71st place finish. The Bears scored 113 for the title.
Riverview turned in an impressive performance to take second in the team standings, making it a 1-2 WPIAL finish.
Mason Ochs (8th) and
Gideon Deasy (14th) were the runner-up's state medalists, as Riverview put up 132 points, 19 back of Thurston.
The defending 1A state champions from
Jenkintown placed third as a team, another strong finish for the District 1 champions. Usual top runner
Luke Miller was an unfortunate DNF, but the Drakes still got two on the medal stand with
Oliver Michell taking 17th (the top frosh in the field) and
Aiden Michell taking 19th.
Carter Geer was 26th for Jenkintown, which scored 160 for third place honors.
District 4 champions
Wyalusing Valley was a point behind Jenkintown, taking fourth, and they were followed closely by fifth place
Penns Valley Area, which scored 167.
