This past weekend would have brought us the Paul Short Run on Lehigh University's lightning-fast course in Bethlehem. With the coronavirus pandemic continuing, the meet -- like many others this fall -- was cancelled.
So instead, let's look back on one of the highlights from last year's Paul Short Run, when Germantown Academy's Robert DiDonato broke through with the biggest XC win of his career. DiDonato went 15:15 for the win, running away from a talented and deep field.
| PLACE | ATHLETE | TEAM | RESULT | POINTS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert DiDonato | 11 | Germantown Academy | 15:15.10 | 1 | ||
| 2 | Ethan Maher | 12 | LaSalle College High School | 15:20.80 | 2 | ||
| 3 | Garrett Baublitz | 12 | Juniata | 15:21.40 | 3 | ||
| 4 | Sean Garrett | 12 | Garnet Valley | 15:23.30 | 4 | ||
| 5 | Andrew Avila | 12 | Charter School of Wilmington | 15:24.30 | 5 | ||
After that Paul Short victory, DiDonato went on to wins at the Inter-Ac League Championship and then the PAISAA Championships (the state meet for independent schools in PA). Then he placed tenth at Foot Locker Northeast to book a trip to Foot Locker Nationals, where he placed 31st in the country.
It remains to be seen if we will see DiDonato on the trails this fall, but his junior year was quite the season, as he emerged as one of the top distance runners in Pennsylvania. Let's hope if we don't see him this fall, DiDonato gets a chance to close out his high school career on the track.
Watch the boys' Brown Race at Paul Short from last year and check out an interview with DiDonato from after the race below.
