Hidden Gems are up-and-coming student-athletes who haven't garnered the attention they deserve. We want to bring these gems to light. We will highlight a "Hidden Gem" in the Pennsylvania XC/TF Scene each week.
Cole Stevens, a sophomore at Manheim Township, fits our description of a hidden gem perfectly.
With an impressive 16:56.20 personal best at the 2021 PIAA 3A District 3 Championships and a 111th place finish at the 2021 PIAA 3A Cross Country State Championship, Stevens demonstrated promise during his freshman season. He expanded on his prowess during the 2022 outdoor season and began to emerge as a future star.
Stevens has a range of impressive personal bests, from a 55.84 in the 400-meter dash to a 9:28.91 in the 3200-meter run. Many never come close to these personal bests throughout their high school careers, let alone during their freshman campaign. His ability across all running events shows he has what it takes to become a well-rounded distance runner.
A sixth place finish in the 1600-meter run at the 2022 PIAA 3A Track and Field State Championship was Stevens' breakthrough moment. His 4:13.94 effort put him in a position to compete with some of the best runners in the state.
He wasted no time carrying his momentum from the track into this cross country season. Last weekend, He opened the season with a new 5k personal best of 16:31.10 at the regionally competitive Riverside Kickoff Classic Night Invitational.
A new generation of Pennsylvania talent is constantly working through the ranks, and it appears Stevens is on pace to make a name for himself. Will Stevens etch his signature among Pennsylvania's legendary list of athletes? Time will tell, but he is undoubtedly one to keep an eye on this season and into the future.
