One of the most challenging state meet layouts, the Parkview Course in Hershey underwent a couple tweaks prior to this year's PIAA Foundation Invitational.
Will the 5K test be more vulnerable to fast times come Saturday, especially in the final race of the day for Class AAA boys?
16 Boys Have Run Faster Than 15:20
Taking a look at the raw numbers thus far, a total of 21 AAA boys have cracked into the 15:20s at least once this season. Over the entire 2023 season, only 16 in AAA had the same achievement.
The parade of talented Class AAA distance runners taking on that task might be led by the top returnee from a year ago, Lower Merion's Nicholas Mazzeo. Trying to stay close to last year's eventual national champion Drew Griffith, the then sophomore hit the finish in 15:44 and was one of only three to break into the 15s in the PIAA AAA race.
In 2024, Mazzeo leads the state performance list over 5K, with his 14:52.2 run for fourth at Great American in North Carolina being the first of his two sub-15 efforts so far this season. The junior also is the lone athlete under 15:00 thus far in the Keystone state.
North Allegheny senior Jack Bertram was third last year in the PIAA final at 15:50, with Penncrest's Rowan Carr 8th and Achilles Shui of North Penn the only other top 10 returnee in 10th. Another District 1 standout back this year is Council Rock North junior Matt Gosling, who went 15:02.1 to finish No. 2 to Mazzeo last week.
Hershey's Vinay Raman also has a strong record heading to the hometown venue, with a 15:20 victory in the District 3 race his most recent accomplishment. Senior classmate Jacob Abraham was only 6.5 seconds and two places behind, providing a formidable 1-2 punch for the Trojans.
In his first cross country season, Carter Smith of Mifflin County has been almost perfect, with a second at the Mid-Penn meet the only blemish on his 2024 record. And that was a near dead heat with State College's Isaac Oppermann, with Raman less than a half-second behind.
Two others who will be looking for strong finishes to 2024 seasons are Fox Chapel Area senior Ethan Vaughan, who captured three invites before winning the District 7 (WPIAL) title last week, and North Allegheny junior Andrew Peigh, who was NA's No. 4 runner in Hershey a year ago but finished second in the 2024 district final.
Also keep an eye on Jonathan Hess (Lewisburg), Adam Kingston (Manheim Township) and Kamden Kramer (McDowell).
State College is Looking For Its First Title Since 1986
On the boys side, top-ranked State College has been tough to top. The Little Lions' success early on included team titles at the Big Valley and Spike Shoe invites, along with taking the top spot at Foundation with just 73 points.
At last week's District 6 meet, State College warmed up for Hershey with an impressive 20 points, taking second through seventh places with a spread of less than 37 seconds.
Last year at Parkview, the team finished third with a junior-dominated roster and only two seniors. State College last won the boys' AAA state title in 1986 when the season finale was a short walk from their school at Penn State.
In the 2024 District 1 final at Lehigh, Council Rock North was more than 50 points up on the rest of the field. With two in the overall top 10 there, CRN led five other state-qualifying teams from that race.
In District 3 at Big Spring, Hershey and Manheim Township battled at the front, with each team placing a pair in the top four overall. Manheim Township led the way by 16 points over Hershey, with JP McCaskey just another point back amongst the five teams claiming spots on the starting line this Saturday.
And in the District 7 (WPIAL) championship, Norwin upended perennial WPIAL favorite North Allegheny, stopping the Tigers' win streak at six consecutive years. Taking the title by 10 points, the Knights won for the first time since 1977, powered by a front trio separated by just 8 seconds while North Allegheny had two in the first six overall.
District 12's La Salle College HS will also be in the mix. The team just dominated to win their district with seven boys within 21-seconds.
It should be a great ending to a championship afternoon.