The beauty of cross country is that hard work pays. For three years, Julia Somers of Haverford has been a very good cross country runner, and a valuable member of the 2003 State Championship AAA 4x800 team from Haverford. At her final race on her "favorite course," she ran a 30-second PR to win a league title, and the biggest race of her career. "It was my final race, and I wanted it so badly. No one was going to keep me from winning today." Her 18:59 is a great time on this tough course, which undulates from a half-mile through an uphill finish. Her one point helped a young Haverford Township team to finish 3rd. Strath Haven placed five scorers in the top 13 to tally 44, 26 better than Conestoga. Kristen Kildea, a junior, led Strath Haven, while Conestoga was paced by junior Liz Costello, in 3rd. They ran 19:08 and 19:25, respectively. In the boys' race, Upper Darby used a little extra preparation on the course last week to ensure their favored status was indeed, realized. They beat Ridley by four, and Haverford by eight behind a 4-8-12-14-21 59-point performance. Radnor senior Joshua Mishrikey ran 16:24 for the win.
Julia Somers at the top of the nasty hill out of the woods that marks the
two-mile point. The upgrade continues for another 400 meters.
Her 18:59 was a 30-second PR.
Kristen Kildea, a junior, led Strath Haven to a 26-point win over 2nd place
Conestoga, paced by junior Liz Costello, in 3rd.
They ran 19:08 and 19:25, respectively.
Senior Joshua Mishrikey ran 16:24 to give the
individual title to Radnor.
Haverford senior Pat Donnelly passed soph Rob Speare
of Strath Haven in the final 50 meters to take 2nd. 