Pennsylvania teams and athletes are set to attend one of two Regional Championship meets tomorrow (11/26) in New York; Champs Northeast Regionals at Van Cortlandt Park and the Team Nationals Northeast Regionals in Bowdoin Park. Pennsylvanias are poised to tear up the New York dirt and we're excited to give you a run down of things to watch.
Team Nationals Northeast Regional BOYS:
In the Boys Championship Race, North Allegheny, Episcopal Academy, Exeter Township, and Germantown Friends will square off with several other strong teams in the Northeast. It will be a heavyweight bout to decide who earns one of two automatic qualifying bids.
The consensus is that Christian Brothers Academy (CBA), out of NJ, has the first bid locked up. They are ranked third nationally by MileSplit after winning yet another Meet of Champions Championship in NJ.
With them aside, the battle for the second spot is contentious. Union Catholic (NJ) is arguably the favorite for the slot, ranked No. 24 in the Nation, but their star, Jimmy Wischusen, went down earlier this year. Without Wischusen, they are vulnerable, and there's potential for a Pennsylvania team to strike.
After winning the PIAA State Championship (3A), the apparent contender is North Allegheny. They've improved over the season, and their times are misleading. They don't have the fastest average but run on more challenging courses. They are, by all means, a championship-caliber team. They have cracked the 172 average speed-rating mark multiple times this season.
For context, CBA posted a 181 average speed rating at the Meet of Champions, and Union Catholic posted a 173.4.
Pay attention to Episcopal Academy. Because they are a Pennsylvania Independent School, they don't get the attention or adoration they deserve for the season they've had so far. But they've been a powerful team, winning the Paul Short White race with one of the best averages we've ever seen on the course and, most recently, won the PAISAA State Championship.
They posted a 173.6 average speed rating at that Championship, with some interesting factors at play. They didn't have much competition, and it was pretty clear from the gun, that they would win the meet. Put them in a competitive environment, and they are a wild card. They could quickly post a 175-speed rating.
Their strength, like North Allegheny, is in their 1-5 split, but Episcopal has NA beat in that metric. However, North Allegheny has Jack Bertram out front. The sophomore standout is a weapon; you can expect him to snag a low stick.
I hate to say it because they missed qualifying for the PIAA State Championship, but look for Exeter to compete for a Top-5 finish. They broke out in the middle of the season but have faded since. They were ranked inside the Top-10 of our Power Rankings at one point. At the District 3 final, they experienced what I'd consider an implosion. But that's normal for a young team still learning the ropes. They are likely invigorated and determined, coming into the regional Championship.
On the individual level, look for Simon Donovan (Germantown Friends), Tyler Rader (Huntingdon Area), Aidan McHugh (Episcopal), Dakin Ebmeyer (Episcopal), and Jack Bertram (North Allegheny to mix things up.
Donovan has run 15:29 this year and posted several solid finishes. Rader was the PIAA 1A runner-up. McHugh and Ebmeyer have enjoyed solid seasons for Episcopal and are critical in the team's success. McHugh was second in the Paul Short White race, while Ebmyer won the PAISAA Championship. Bertram was third at the PIAA 3A Final and has led his team all season.