By Don Rich
Love it, or love it less than that – there is no disputing that the PIAA State Championship course at Hershey is challenging. From its Aloha Hills, to several short but pace-sapping hills at interesting locations, to the now infamous "Poop Out Hill" to set up a final 200 meter sprint – it's a course that rewards those who can shift gears, punishes those who can't, and destroys those who went out way too hard.
Welcome to the third year on the site of the former Parkland Golf Course, and the 2nd year with the new layout.
Moved to the final weekend of September this year because of a scheduling conflict at Hershey, the meet is holding its own against the more-established, but flat Carlisle Invitational. Hopes are to move it to a more comfortable spot in 2010.
However, for 2009, fans at both meets will be in for great races, and some of the top runners in not only PA, but in the US.
GIRLS BLUE RACE - 9:30
The fun starts with the Girls' Blue race at 9:30, comprised this year of all AA schools. Headlining the team competition is PA#9 (PA #1 Small Schools) Central Cambria, the two-time defending AA state champs. They are coming off a win in Altoona, where they were paced by freshman Alyssa Brandis. Senior Kelsey Seymour took a header in that race, and fought back over 70 places to get 12th. The rest of the top five are veterans of the podium, but look to their new six and seven, and you see two more freshman. All are back next year except Kelsey.
Giving them competition at this showdown will be PA#4 Small School Northwestern Lehigh, who finished 7th at States and is paced by last year's 4th place finisher in AA States, senior Lindsay Kerr. PA#5 Small School North East will also be in the race behind sophomore Katie Perkins. Lewisburg is also back following their States 3rd place finish. Saint Basil, who was 6th in 2008, is also racing.
Individually, look for 2008 AA State runner-up junior Leah Anne Wirfel of Forest Hills; plus Mansfield junior Susan Learn (11th in States in 2008); and Shady Side Academy senior Katrina Jueng.
GIRLS GOLD RACE - 10:15
Individually, this is the showdown of the day anywhere in PA. Defending AAA State champ, junior Jess Cygan of Liberty, goes head-to-head with the newcomer of the season, Sara Sargent, a freshman from Pennsbury. But you don't have to look further than Cygan's own teammate, sophomore Amy Darlington, to find someone in the race who could surprise everyone. Mixing it up in front will also be Pennridge soph Victoria Gerlach and Tennent senior Anne Areias.
Cygan and Darlington lead the state's #1 ranked team who was 4th in 2008. Sargent leads PA#4 Pennsbury. And the field is filled with other teams who can challenge for a good finish with PA#8 Downingtown East, Areis's Tennent, District 7's Knoch, and Unionville.
BOYS BLUE RACE - 11:00
Two top AA teams went 1, 3 4 last year in the state meet, so this is a pre-states race in every sense of the word. Defending AA Champs Elk Lake, PA#4 Small School; are facing PA#5 Small School North East, who won a state title a few years ago, returning 4th place AA team, Holy Redeemer. But also in the thick of things will be PA#3 Small School Fairview.
Individually, the top returner from States is North East senior Alex Beardsley - easy to spot - because he's wearing yellow. He was 5th in the AA bracket in 2008. He'll face stiff competition from another top 10 finisher from last year, senior Tyler Riegel of Tulpehocken. Another top runner this season so far has been Father Judge senior Tom Kehl.
BOYS GOLD RACE - 11:45
This race will give teams plenty of room to run and an opportunity to refine race strategy for the state's course and showcase talent that could be a surprise to many. Conrad Weiser won the PTXC 1 race on September 12th with a 1:39 spread off Zach Barker's 16:03. And Chris Dailey is leading former AA (now AAA) power Dallas after a convincing win at last week's Lackawanna County Commissioner's race. His 16:08 was at the front of a 50-second spread.