Steel City is shaping up to be another competitive invitational with some of the top teams in the state on the boys and girls side. Although US# 10 Cedar Cliff will be trying there luck down at Great American this year, US #22 Council Rock will be looking for the win. The Rock has two amazing front runners in John Mahoney and Brandon Pomerantz, who have dominated the field at Desales University Invitational and Council Rock Invitational. Pomerantz went 16:41 on a challenging Desales course and 16:07 on Council Rock?s course. Mahoney was just behind with 16:43 at Desales and edged Pomerantz out with 16:00. With a strong 3-5, depending on staying healthy, Council Rock proves hard to beat. Challenging the Rock will also be Coatesville. Coming off a strong 3rd place finish at Carlisle, The Coatesville boys seemed strong. Even with the absence of Amin Garnett, Coatesville averaged 16:52 on a fairly quick Carlisle course. With home course advantage, the harriers from Coatesville could challenge the Rock. The Parkland boys should also be in the hunt, after falling 3 points behind Coatesville?s performance at Carlisle. They averaged 16:54 and sophomore Tim Stepp looks to lead his team to a high finish at Steel City. Notable individuals who will be looking to challenge for the win: Junior Greg Thomas of Cardinal O'?Hara who recently finish 7th at Briarwood Invitational and posted a solid 16:12 performance at a modified 3.1 (40m short) mile Steel City course last year. Kyle Murray, Central Bucks South, is coming off a blazing 15:41 performance at Paul Short this past weekend and looks to improve upon his 3rd place (15:58) at Steel City last year.
On the girl?s side, a strong list of girl's teams look to battle it out in a midseason meet. New to the invitational this year, and fresh off their upsets over St. Basil and Hatboro Horsham, the Parkland girls look to add another win to their list. Parkland upset Hatboro at Desales on 9/11 and then went to Carlisle (19:52 average) to beat a vulnerable St. Basil team. Led by Erin Roberts, Katie Stepp and Emma Stanley, Parkland will bring lots of talent to a tough and unfamiliar course. Right on their heels, Chambersburg has had early success as well, placing fourth in state caliber meet at Carlisle. Sarah Morrison and Brooke Jacobs will try to get past Parkland in order to repeat as Steel City champs. With Chambersburg familiar with the course, they will give Parkland a run for their money. Although the Cedar Cliff girl?s team traditionally went to Steel City they will accompany their boy?s team at Great American along with St. Basil. Other individuals looking for the win include Christina and Yianna Antonopoulos of York Suburban who placed 4th and 6th respectively last year at Steel City and are coming off of strong performances in The Race of Champions at Carlisle (Christina ? 1st, 19:26 and Yianna ? 8th, 20:00). Also in the hunt for top finishes among girls include Coatesville?'s Kristina Kubala, Perkiomen Valley?'s Brittney Long, and Pennsbury'?s Jessica Wolff.