Burns was appointed to the Downingtown West position three years ago, when Devlin was just entering the program and Barnhill had just transferred over.
He was basically given two runners with incredible ability. Which is a coach’s ultimate wish.
(Paul Short finish photo by Timothy O'Dowd, IrishRunner.com)
For all the lineage Devlin has in his blood, Barnhill’s history is deeply rooted in running too. His father ran for LaSalle University. Burns said he was a great steeplechaser.
So Barnhill and Devlin are more similar than unique.
“When they came in together, right away that relationship was back and forth,“ Burns said. “We promote competition. We talk about competition all the time in the program. Being the best you can be. And those two guys really do that.”
Having a year on Devlin, Barnhill had experience in his pocket. So that contributed to a lot or races where he outlasted Devlin. But at the same time, his mentality was philosophically diverse.
“They have much different styles,“ Burns said. “Barnhill is laid back, opportunistic. He waits for his opportunity and goes for it.
“Whereas Quinn leads, leads from the front, wants to make his mark right away. So they’re different in the way they race.”
Barnhill registered a 15:57 at the District 1 Championships as a sophomore, though slumped through some races his junior year, outside of a fourth-place finish at Paul Short (15:43), which stands as his personal best.
Now, more than ever, Devlin and Barnhill need each other.
“Those two race to win,“ Burns said. “And even though they have different strategies, they’re both very race savvy, very smart guys. They know how to run.
“Going into states, we expect them to be up with the Wade Endress’ and the Bryan Andrews and the (West Chester) Henderson guys. We expect those guys to be in the hunt and trying to do well.”
This summer, it was about the basics. Start from the ground up.
You know how in the movies the hero always gets knocked down before he’s able to get up again? For Devlin, his sophomore year felt like the embattled act of all those emotionally draining films.
And so, just like in the movies, Devlin devoted himself to better understanding of his body this past summer. He did so while incorporating different training into his arsenal.
(Paul Short photo by Ted Hodgins)
It certainly helped that his father trained with him.
Jeff, formerly an assistant with Downingtown West, traveled with Quinn to several Ironman’s around the region. They swam in lakes, building up endurance without grinding their joints as running is wont to do.
And they biked. They biked far and long. Sometimes the pace was fast. Other times it was comfortable. But the end result was a healthier, stronger body for Quinn. They did so all around Chester County, which Jeff recalls as being picturesque in a number of different ways.
“Over the summer I did a lot of biking and swimming, along with a lot of running,” Quinn said. “I did a lot of long runs, tried to bike three to four times a week. I tried to swim four or five times a week.”
That period of development has given Devlin a newfound confidence.
Though that doesn’t mean he’s changed his ways entirely.
He still has a tendency to lead from the front. That, even Burns says, you’re unlikely to ever change.
“If I could hold the reigns in for a mile and half on him, it’ll be a pretty good coaching job,“ Burns said. “But I think that Quinn is going to run his race.
“It doesn’t matter who else is out there. He’s going to go out there and do what he does.”
Devlin still has high aspirations this postseason.
“I definitely want to put myself out there and let everyone know I can run with them,” Quinn said after the Carlisle Invitational in late September. “ I’ll be up there in districts and states.”
Photo by Ted Hodgins
PA 67 Watch List for NXN and Foot Locker contenders - Oct 7 Update (by Jayson Jackson)
Boys-Teams
The North Allegheny-Baldwin matchup never materialized at the Pittsburgh Central Catholic Invite as North Allegheny rested runners and Baldwin entered George Kelly in the freshman race (he won). West Chester Henderson finished only 19 points behind US #6 Christian Brothers Academy at the Shore Coaches Invite in New Jersey. Altoona defended its Steel City title as they patiently wait for the return of #5 man, Patrick Reade.
Altoona-Last Week: Won Steel City Invite, while still missing their 5th man. Next: State College Invite (1st in 2009)
Baldwin-Last Weekend: 2nd by the tiebreaker at Pittsburgh Central Catholic Invite while their 4th man won the freshman race Next: Mingo Classic 10/14 - Tri-States 10/21
Cardinal O’Hara-Last Weekend: Won PIAA Foundation meet. Next: ?___
Cumberland Valley-Last Weekend: Off. Next: Mid-Penns 10/16
North Allegheny-Last Weekend: Sat out top 14 at Pittsburgh Central Invite.Next: Tri-States 10/21
West Chester Henderson-Last Weekend: 2nd at Shore Coaches Invite behind US #6 Christian Brothers Academy Next 10/13 West Chester Henderson Inv (3200m on track), then 10/21 Ches-Monts
Girls-Teams
US #17 Pennsbury will take on the best in the nation at the Eastern States Champion, lead by the top two teams in the country Fayetteville-Manilus and Saratoga Springs. Pennsbury only loss on the season is to #10 Tatnall at the Briarwood Invite. They will look to reverse that result and improve on their national ranking.
Downingtown East-Last Weekend: Off. Next: ?___
North Allegheny-Last Weekend:Off. Next: Tri-States 10/21
North Hills-Last Weekend: Won Pittsburgh Central Invite Next: ?
Pennsbury-Last Weekend: Won Paul Short Run. Next: Girls Eastern States Championship
State College-Last Weekend: Won Steel City Invite. Next: State College Invite
West Chester Henderson-Last Weekend: Off. 10/9 Manhattan Invitational
Boys-Individuals
Chris Campbell (Council Rock North) returned the favor to Wade Endress (Altoona) at Steel City as the flip-flopped in the results from 2009. Zach Hebda and Joe Kush (North Hills) lived up to their billing at the Pittsburgh Central Catholic Invite as they went 1-2 in 15:48. Jacbo Kildoo, Grove City, represented in his final home invite with a 15:51 win. LaSalle's Tom Trainer will be in New York for the Eastern States Championship where he will face runners from top ranked teams Christian Brothers Academy (#6) and Fayetteville-Manlius (#18).
Chris Campbell, Council Rock North-Last Weekend: Won Steel City Invite by 20 seconds over Wade Endress. Next: ?___
Wade Endress, Altoona-Last Weekend: 2nd at Steel City Invite. Next: Tri-States Invitational
Ryan Gil, North Allegheny-Last Weekend: Off Next: Tri-States 10/21
Zach Hebda & Joe Kush North Hills-Last Weekend: 1-2 at Pittsburgh Central Invite with a 15:48.. Next: ?
Matt Kacyon, Whitehall-Last Weekend: Won PIAA Foundation Gold race. Next: ?
Jacob Kildoo, Grove City-Last Weekend: Won Grove City Invite in 15:51. Next: ?
Tom Trainer, La Salle College-Last Weekend: Off. Next: Eastern States, Manhattan Invitational
Girls-Individuals
The top girls list remains unchanged again. The big news this week is Sara Sargent taking on the best in the east at the Eastern States Championship, including US #1 Aisling Cuffe and the individuals from ranked teams Fayetterville-Manilus (#1), Saratoga Springs (#2), Tatnall (#10), and Queensbury (#14).
Leigha Anderson, Cumberland Valley-Last weekend: Off Next: Mid-Penns 10/16
Katie Kinkead, Central Bucks East-Last Weekend:Off. Next: SOL Conference meet
Margo Malone, North Hills-Last Weekend: Defended Pittsburgh Central Catholic title with an 18:50 over sister Shannon. Next: ?
Meghan McGovern, North Penn-Last Weekend: 3rd at Salesianum behind US #10 Tatnall’s top two, including US #20 haley Pierce Next: ?___
Angel Picirillo, Homer Center-Last Weekend: Runnerup to US #9 Sara Sargent at Paul Short with an 18:03 Next: Indiana County Champs 10/14, then Heritage Conference on 10/21
Sara Sargent, Pennsbury-Last Weekend: Won Paul Short with a 17:43, currently ranked ninth in Milesplit individual rankings. Next: Eastern States
Leah Anne Wirfel, Forest Hills-Last Weekend: Off Next: ?.
Under the radar, but not undetected – Meghan McGovern
is a quick study on an XC course.
Don Rich
PennTrackXC.com
Meghan McGovern remembers it well.
She had always been a soccer and field hockey player. So running came quite naturally to her.
Looking for a spring sport in Middle School, she went out for track. Her coach put her in the mile.
She stopped after a single lap.
For many beginning runners, that could have been it. But McGovern stayed with it.
Admittedly, she was not that motivated entering 9th grade. In fact, she didn't even go out for cross country.
But she did give track another try... running on the 4x800 meter relay and taking a crack at the 3000 meter run during the indoor season.
"You could see that she would stay with the older girls" says long time North Penn coach Jim Crawford. "We definitely could see her coming."
"All the girls my freshman year were such great leaders" says McGovern. "All I had to do was to follow in their footsteps."
McGovern not only followed in their footsteps, but she would eventually start making some significant ones of her own.
She would run a season-best 3000 of 11:09.60 that first season of indoor. And by the end of outdoor as a freshman, she was down to 11:01.73 in the 3200 meter run.
"After spring track, I decided to be more serious," she shares. "And I wanted to give cross country a try because I thought it would improve my track times."
Even the best laid plans can have a few setbacks.
McGovern came into cross country her sophomore year nursing a knee injury.
Not inclined to push his new talent, Crawford took a cautious approach, sitting her out until the 4th or 5th meet.
When she did start, the talent showed almost immediately, as McGovern quickly established herself as the #1 runner on the team. Her first race was at the hilly Briarwood Invitational, where she took an unexpected 3rd in the Championship race in an eye-opening 19:19 - the fastest PA girl of the day.
Two weeks later, she was on the hills of Brandywine State Park at the Salesianum Invitational in Delaware, where she uncorked an even more impressive 19:31.8, the fastest time of the day.
"I don't like hills", she admits. "But I don't mind them either."
Keep in mind, we're talking about a cross country novice, here.
Which makes her first trek to the storied back hills of Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx very impressive, indeed.
North Penn was in one of the regular varsity races in what is the biggest one-day meet in the country. Of the seven girls races, her 14:50.91 4000 meter run was the 12th fastest on the day, and resulted in an individual win for her has well.
Move the clock ahead a few more weeks, and this quick learner showed what she could actually do on a flat course – now officially known as her 'favorite' course.
In her league meet – the SOL Continental Conference Championship at Lehigh University – she rocketed to a 17:39. That time would match the state-wide season-best mark posted by eventual state champ Sara Sargent a week later at the District 1 Championship. McGovern would take second at districts (Photo to right nearing two miles), and eventually earn her first PIAA state medal with her 8th place finish at Hershey in early November. (Photo above right 400 meters before the final hill ascent at PIAA States)
Not a bad start in your first-ever cross country season.
Confidence begets confidence, and McGovern didn't let up in track.
She dropped her 3000 meter run PR by 58 seconds to 10:10.23.
"After indoor, I really wanted to get serious."
And she did.
Her indoor 3000 time qualified her for the Penn Relays Carnival High School Girls 3000 meter COA, where she was 13th in another PR of 10:07.09. She had wanted to qualify after watching one of her freshman-year mentors, now-graduated Christy Cohick run in the COA in 2009. (Photo from Penn Relays - 2010)
Outdoors, she would earn her second state medal, running a PR 3200 of 10:38.02 and finishing 3rd in the PIAA AAA State Championships.
In his 36 years of coaching, Crawford has seen some great runners. "Occasionally, you do see a runner like Meghan," he says. Most stop when they realize how long the race is in cross country. She just kept getting better."
And he thinks her upside is just beginning because she only started running at all in middle school.
From the support she received from upperclassmen when she first started the sport, she has turned it around and become the mentor as a junior.
"She's so good with the younger kids," says her coach.
A born leader according to Crawford, McGovern is involved in student government and other school organizations. But this season, she has achieved something that few in the history of North Penn cross country have – she was voted one of this year's cross country co-captains as a junior.
"She really is about the team," Crawford says. "She is a 'Miss Congeniality' of sorts, even talking with competitors while she's warming up.
Heading into her second-ever season of cross country, McGovern wanted to be ready, not injured.
She put in the miles... in the reasonable range of 25-30 miles a week, hitting a high of 35. Her long run is around eight.
She went to the Princeton University cross country camp.
And the closer the season got, the more excited she became.
"I don't like running in circles," McGovern admits. "Cross country is definitely my favorite of the three (seasons)."
From the long bus rides with friends, to the bonds formed by racing the same distance, in the same conditions with the same goal of helping the team and setting a PR, McGovern has discovered her athletic love.
And boy did she open 2010 in style.
Heading to the Central Bucks East Invitational on September 11th, she faced an early-season test against 2010 XC state runner-up Katie Kinkead, who was coming off an incredible junior year.
The two were neck-and-neck until Kinkead started to pull away a bit. McGovern says she stayed about the same distance behind Kinkead for about 1.5 miles, and then worked a hill to catch her about 2 miles. Kinkead pulled away again, but the next time McGovern passed, she kicked and didn't look back. She would win by 12 seconds, running an 18:30.
A week later, Kinkead would return the favor in the fastest girls' race ever at the well-worn, oft-raced Belmont Plateau in the Briarwood Invitational. A NJ girls – Megan Venables – would shatter the course record that day. Only eight girls had ever run under 19 before this day. On the 18th, six more were added to the list behind Venables' astounding 17:39. Sargent also broke the old record of 18:26 with her 18:04. Two national stars of the Tatnall DE team (Reagan Anderson and Haley Pierce) would go 3rd and 5th, sandwiching Kinkead, who was just a second off of the old record.
And joining this elite list was McGovern in 6th in 18:56.3. (Photo finishing at Briarwood)
Admittedly a touch intimidated before the race, McGovern was happy to be in elite company – although she still sees herself as a bit as an outsider.
With a week to go before her next meeting against the two Tatnall stars, McGovern easily won the September 25th Souderton Invitational in 18:11.
On September 29th, she again faced Kinkead, along with another of the state's top harriers, fellow junior Victoria Gerlach of Pennridge. Gerlach would defend her home course in the tri meet, going 18:06 to hold off Kinkead (18:10), and McGovern (18:25).
(Victoria Gerlach, Katie Kinkead, Meghan McGovern)
Just three days later, it was back to the site of last year's confidence-boosting course at the Salesianum Invitational in Delaware. Actually the course was altered this year for runner safety – but it is still a nasty layout.
All McGovern did was to stay with, and nearly upset the two Tatnall girls on their home turf, who were clocked in just under 19:04, with McGovern at 19:04.99.
Best of all as far as McGovern is concerned, is her PA#6 ranked team captured 2nd to US#10 Tatnall 22-47. Tatnall has qualified for Nike Cross Nationals several times. And both top runners have been ranked in the top 25 nationally by MileSplit this season.
"My team has really been stepping up this year," says McGovern.
(Photo at Salesianum by Bud Keegan, DE)
North Penn @ Salesianum 10/2
3 McGovern, Meghan 11 North Penn 6:08.6 19:04.99 3
7 Selheimer, Heather 12 North Penn 6:36.0 20:30.32 7
10 Kern, Courtney 10 North Penn 6:42.0 20:48.75 10
13 Brown, Rachel 11 North Penn 6:46.4 21:02.50 13
14 Deckel, Lynne 11 North Penn 6:47.6 21:06.08 14
But you won't find McGovern soaking up the accolades.
First of all, it's only her second season of cross country, and she is focused on learning to "race smarter, better, so I can compete with those top girls."
She has season goals of going under 18 again and breaking 19 at Hershey. And she'd like to take a trip to Sunken Meadow in late November to try her hand at qualifying for Foot Locker Nationals.
But those are individual goals – something she doesn't seem extremely comfortable discussing.
But ask about the team, and she starts bubbling. She is focused on the fun and her friends.
Crawford says the first thing he noticed after McGovern had finished 3rd to Gerlach and Kinkead at the recent tri-meet, was Meghan running back 250 meters from the finish to the final straight of the course to cheer for every one of her teammates.
Just how far has she come as a runner?
Crawford shares the ultimate compliment for a front-running distance (sorry Meghan) star.
"She has a strategy in mind before every race. She just doesn't necessarily share it with me."
That is a very long way from the abbreviated first mile of 7th grade. And it doesn't look like anything can stop this runner from getting better each and every time out.
PA 67 Watch List for NXN and Foot Locker contenders - Oct 1 Update (by Jayson Jackson)
Boys-Teams
Cardinal O’Hara is the only newcomer this week. Their victory in Hershey at the PIAA Foundation Meet earned them a #4 ranking in the latest PTXC poll. North Allegheny and Baldwin will square off at the Pittsburgh Central Catholic Invite.
Altoona-Last Week: 2nd at Carlisle while missing #5. Next: Steel City Invite (1st in 2009)
Baldwin-Last Weekend: 3rd at Marymont behind Virginia’s #1 and #6. Next: Pittsburgh Central Catholic Invite (2nd in 2009)
Cardinal O’Hara-Last Weekend: Won PIAA Foundation meet. Next: ?
Cumberland Valley-Last Weekend: 3rd at Carlisle Invite in their opener. Next: ?
North Allegheny-Last Weekend: Won Carlisle over several ranked teams.Next: Pittsburgh Central Catholic Invite (1st in 2009)
West Chester Henderson-Last Weekend: Off. Shore Coaches Championship in NJ
Girls-Teams
State College and Downingtown East are the two new teams on this week’s list. Downingtown East ran without their top and finished 10 points behind #6 North Penn. State College was missing Chloe Schmidt (All-State in track) and Nora Adams (All-State in XC) at Carlisle and finished second behind #2 North Allegheny. North Hills and North Allegheny will face each other at the Pittsburgh Central Catholic Invite, with a visit from Chambersburg of District 3, while Pennsbury will race the face terrain in Lehigh at the Paul Short Run.
Downingtown East-Last Weekend: Runnerup to #6 North Penn at Souderton Invite. Next: Training this week - light at William Tennent 10/9
North Allegheny-Last Weekend:Won Carlise Invite with strong their top three scoring 6-7-8. Next: Pittsburgh Central Catholic Invite
North Hills-Last Weekend: Off. Next: Pittsburgh Central Catholic Invite
Pennsbury-Last Weekend: Won PIAA Foundation in impressive fashion. Next: Paul Short Run
State College-Last Weekend: 2nd at Carlisle Invite while missing two from their top seven. Next: Steel City Invite
West Chester Henderson-Last Weekend: Off. Next: ?
Boys-Individuals
There was a lot of movement on the boys list this past week and it includes three new members. Wade Endress and Chris Campbell will race in Coatesville at the Steel City Invite. Endress and Campbell went 1-2 in 2009, 16:35 to 16:41, respectively. On the other side of the state in the City of Champions, Ryan Gil, Joe Kush, Zach Hebda, and Juris Silenieks will race in Schenley Park at the Pittsburgh Central Catholic Invite.
Chris Campbell, Council Rock North-Last Weekend: Won Council Rock Invite by 45 seconds. Next: Steel City Invite (2nd to Endress in 2009)
Wade Endress, Altoona-Last Weekend: 2nd at Carlisle Invite. Next: Steel City (defending Champ)
Ryan Gil, North Allegheny-Last Weekend: 4th at Carlisle Invite. Next: Pittsburgh Central Catholic Invite (2nd in 2009 and this is where he jumpstarted his season)
Zach Hebda, North Hills-Last Weekend: Off. Next: Pittsburgh Central Catholic Invite (12th in 2009, teammates Juris Silenieks and Joe Kush were 3rd and 4th, respectively in 2009)
Matt Kacyon, Whitehall-Last Weekend: Won PIAA Foundation Gold race. Next: ?
Jacob Kildoo, Grove City-Last Weekend: 6th at Carlisle Invite to open the season. Next: home Grove City Inv.
Tom Trainer, La Salle College-Last Weekend: 3rd at Carlisle Invite Off. Next: ?
Girls-Individuals
The top girls list remains unchanged from last week. But there will be a big showdown at the Paul Short Run between Sara Sargent and Angel Piccirillo.
Leigha Anderson, Cumberland Valley-Last weekend: Repeated as champ at Carlisle Invite. Next: ?
Katie Kinkead, Central Bucks East-Last Weekend:Off. Next: SOL Conference meet
Margo Malone, North Hills-Last Weekend: Off. Next: Pittsburgh Central Catholic Invite (defending champ)
Meghan McGovern, North Penn-Last Weekend: Won Sounderton Invite by 1:24. Next: Salesianum Invitational DE
Angel Picirillo, Homer Center-Last Weekend: Won Crimson Hawk Invite in 18:49. Next: Paul Short Run
Sara Sargent, Pennsbury-Last Weekend: Won PIAA Foundation meet Gold race. Next: Paul Short Run (2nd in 2009)
Leah Anne Wirfel, Forest Hills-Last Weekend: Defended her PIAA Foundation Blue tite. Next: ?.
Mid-season dual meets can tell a lot (or nothing at all).
But it is fun to follow.
(with contributions from Jim Crawford, North Penn, and George Read, Downingtown East
Some face-offs of top teams and individuals on Wednesday, September 29 in tri meets in the area:
At Pennridge, junior Victoria Gerlach defended her home course against some pretty formidable competiton. She went a very quick 18:06 to hold off senior Katie Kindead of Central Bucks East (18:10) and junior Meghan McGovern of North Penn (18:25). Four girls were in the 18th. In the team scoring, North Penn beat PA #5 Central Bucks East by one, 27-28; North Penn took Pennridge 24-33; and CB East beat Pennridge 23-34.
The three will next see each other at the SOL Continental Championships on October 22nd at Lehigh.
At Avon Grove HS in Chester County, there was a head-to-head matchup between PA#3 Downingtown East and PA#4 West Chester Henderson. Downingtown East came out on top by just three points, 27-30. Both Downingtown East and West Chester Henderson beat the host school, 17-46. Downingtown East took 1st (Katlyn Callaghan-18:22) and 4th (Biz Weiler-18:42); while Henderson captured 2nd (Janie Augustyn-18:23) and 3rd (Amand Eismsn-18:40). Henderson's #3 was a DNF.
PA 67 Watch List for NXN and Foot Locker contenders - Sept 24 Update (by Jayson Jackson)
Boys - Teams
Altoona-Last Week: Won Home invite with 1-2-4-6-14 finish. Next: Carlisle Invite (Runner-up in 2009)
Baldwin-Last Weekend: Off. Next: Marymont X-Country Festival (2nd in 2009)
Conrad Wesier-Last Weekend: Off. Next: Carlisle Invite
Cumberland Valley-Last Weekend: Off. Next: Carlisle Invite (4th in 2009)
North Allegheny-Last Weekend: Used 1-2 finish in Ohio to secure the win. Next: Carlisle Invite (3rd in 2009)
West Chester Henderson-Last Weekend: Off. Next Manhattan?
Girls - Teams
Central Bucks East-Last Weekend: 4th at Briarwood Invite. Next: SOL
Cumberland Valley-Last Weekend: Off.. Next: Carlisle Invite (4th in 2009)
North Allegheny-Last Weekend:Won Boardman Invite using a 20-second compression. Next: Carlisle Invite (3rd in 2009)
North Hills-Last Weekend: 3rd at Slippery Rock, while missing #2 Shannon Malone. If she runs, they win. Next: Pittsburgh Central Catholic Invite 10/2
Pennsbury-Last Weekend: 2nd to #4 Tatnall (DE) at Briarwood. Now ranked #17 in Harrier Super 25. Next: PIAA Foundation XC Invite. (2nd in 2009)
West Chester Henderson-Last Weekend: 3rd at Briarwood Invite behind Tatnall and Pennsbury. Next: ?
Boys-Individuals
Reece Ayers, Tunkhannock-Last Weekend: Off. Next: ?
Wade Endress, Altoona-Last Weekend: Won Altoona Invite in 16:04. Next: Carlisle Invite.
Ryan Gil, North Allegheny-Last Weekend: 15:58 win in Ohio. Next: Carlisle Invite (Highest returning finisher-5th in 2009)
Zach Hebda, North Hills-Last Weekend: Off. Next: Pittsburgh Central Catholic Invite 10/2
Alex Isewksi, Central Bucks West-Last Weekend: Off. Next: Council Rock Invite.
Jacob Kildoo, Grove City-Last Weekend: Off. Next: Carlisle Invite.
Ed Schrom, Central Dauphin-Last Weekend: Off. Next: Carlisle Invite.
Girls-Individuals
Leigha Anderson, Cumberland Valley-Last weekend: Off. Next: Carlisle Invite (defending champ)
Katie Kinkead, Central Bucks East-Last Weekend: 4th at Briarwood, one second off of the old CR. Next: SOL
Margo Malone, North Hills-Last Weekend: Won Slippery Rock Invite by 24 seconds. Next: Pittsburgh Central Catholic Invite 10/2
Meghan McGovern, North Penn-Last Weekend: 6th at Briarwood, 23-second improvement over last year’s 3rd place finish. Next: Carlisle Invite
Angel Picirrillo, Homer Center-Last Weekend: 18:54 win at Altoona Invite. Next: ?
Sara Sargent, Pennsbury-Last Weekend: 2nd at Briarwood under old CR. Next: PIAA Foundation XC Invite (6th in 2009)
Leah Anne Wirfel, Forest Hills-Last Weekend: Off. Next: PIAA Foundation XC Invite (Defending Champ-Varisty Blue race).
Don't ever underestimate Angel Piccirillo.
You can bet she won't.
Cory Mull
PennTrackXC.com
At this point, it would be unwise to develop assumptions about Homer Center junior Angel Piccirillo.
Because you could be fooled rather easily.
This much is true: Piccirillo, a PIAA Class AA track & field gold medalist in the 1,600-meter run and third-place finisher in the 800, and an indoor mile state champion, is a jack-of-all trades runner.
Photo by Don Rich
She prefers mid-distance, but don’t sleep on her slow-twitch fibers either. All you need for example is her fifth-place finish in last year’s PIAA Class AA cross country meet and two of her most recent performances in the PTXC2 and Altoona Mountain Lion Invitational.
In the latter two, Piccirillo secured times under 19-minutes, proving that, whether it’s on the track or on the trails, she’s fast however you look at it.
Some may see that as a transformation of sorts, but her Homer Center coach, seven-year vet Michael Gentile, doesn’t quite look at it that way.
“I still see her as that middle-distance type runner,“ Gentile said. “She’s not quite the cross country distance runner just yet. She’s still a little fish-out-of-water with it. But it’s growing on her. She’s getting used to it.”
It’s hard to look at Piccirillo and not see the promise. As she runs, almost effortlessly at times, her legs are in constant, repetitive motion. Her feet turn over quickly, taking up space and terrain sometimes double that of her counterparts.
Part of her ability in distance stems from her experience on the track. She doesn’t know any better. She only knows one speed: fast.
“When she does the faster, shorter stuff [in training] she likes her miles short and fast,” Gentile said. “That’s when she really starts to pick up her tempo.”
Over time that could be counterproductive, Gentile said, because it could limit her progression. Gentile is gradually trying to build Piccirillo’s mileage up, hoping that in doing so he can build a more complete runner.
Right now, Piccirillo dictates the pace as it suits her. She hasn’t been as receptive to high mileage, which early in the season could prove to be beneficial
“A couple weeks in the summer we got up to the 50s and she got through it,“ Gentile said. “But she wasn’t real happy with it. You can definitely see where it tended to weaken her.”
For some runners, that’s just the way it is. Each has a different set of standards, a different maximization process that allows them to hit another gear. Perhaps Piccirillo hasn’t found her sweet spot just yet.
“I’m definitely stronger than I was,” Piccirillo said of her sophomore year. “I know more about the sport and what I should be doing. I know when I make a mistake and how to correct it, maybe not in the race itself, but seeing what I did wrong as I look back on it. I think it’s coming together.”
Photo by Don Rich
Her analytical presence has proven to be one of her best assets so far. Gentile remembers talking to Piccirillo after her fifth-place finish in last year’s state meet. The then-sophomore said she knew there was a point when she felt the others in front of her took off. And she didn’t.
“Right then and there I said, ‘She’s got it,’” Gentile said. “She won’t make that mistake again. She’s ready to go. And that’s pretty much the way it’s been for us. She knows that, when they’re going, she’s going too.”
The only problem, Gentile foresees, is how to get Piccirillo to that final stage. While the Homer Center product has seen good competition in her western Pennsylvania area, Gentile feels the talent pool is deeper in the east.
He knows that to get Piccirillo where she needs to be come this postseason, he needs to see her compete against some of the best.
“That’s pretty much what we’re working on, to keep that focus,” Gentile said. “And really, the only way to do that is to race better competition. Out in western PA, we don’t quite have the talent pool that there is out east. So we’ve done some fundraising and we’re going to get her out in the east a couple times this year. That’s what we’re going to do. We have to race her against better runners.”
Two Saturdays ago, Piccirillo faced up against the country’s best in New York runner Aisling Cuffe, in the Varsity A girls’ race at PTXC 2.
Gentile gave her the assignment: stick with Cuffe for about a mile, see where you’re at and decide what to do from there.
That Piccirillo did, racing off to a 2:14 half-mile, only three seconds off her career best on the track, en route to a 5:18 first mile.
“She got a mile with Cuffe,“ Gentile said. “And it was an impressive mile. They went out in 2:14 half-mile and 5:18 mile. And she was able to hang on the last two miles, which said a lot for her. She wanted to punish herself early and be able to hang on.”
The result was an 18:24, a career best by 24 seconds.
“It was an opportunity I tried to use to the best of my ability,” Piccirillo said afterward. “That’s a once in a lifetime thing. She’s the best in the country.”
Piccirillo congratulates Cuffe on her race. Photo by Bob Piccirillo
The race was an unofficial beginning to Piccirillo’s campaign. But it also proved there was a lot of work to be done and much ground to be made up. A week later, the junior failed to impress.
“This past weekend, she raced and she hits her first split perfectly,“ Gentile said. “She has such a big lead that she loses her focus and misses her next split and kind of just brings it home. She can get away with it.”
“Now, that’s why we’re trying to take her out of the area and race all over the state. My point this year is ‘I don’t care if you win at all. I want to see you race competitively and see if you can get your time down.’”
That may sound easier said than done, especially considering the strain this season may have on Piccirillo. Traveling is tough, and you can feel the miles just as much when you’re in the car as when you’re running on terrain.
Gentile only has about seven girls on his cross team, including Piccirillo, and none, respectively, have the ability of the junior. Training solo has its benefits, but there are also its hurdles. How do you get better if there’s no one to push you?
“That’s not something I’m used to,” Piccirillo said of training with similarly-talented runners. “I’m running alone.”
Homer Center, which is located inside Homer City -- a few miles away from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania -- isn’t the most broad of regions.
Piccirillo said about 64 students are in her graduating class, and most of the girls in her grade choose the flashier sports in the fall, such as volleyball and soccer.
She herself did that too as a seventh, eighth and nine-grader, playing volleyball. But that all changed after her freshman year, when Gentile saw Piccirillo kill it on the track.
Photo by Don Rich
She owned up to a 28:54 200, a 59:48 400 and a 2:29.30 800. Of course, Gentile prodded and pushed, letting Piccirillo know that she could do better than that.
“She saw the success,” Gentile said. “She saw she could be a really dominant figure on the track. She came out 10th grade year for cross country. It built from there, and the indoor season, where she came into her own.”
She stuck to mostly the 800, 1,600 and mile her sophomore year, securing a 2:11 800 and 4:53.41 mile as a sophomore -- both career bests.
And so now in the fall, it’s the same story.
Fast times, good results. Lots of potential.
Just how good can Piccirillo become in cross country is anyone’s guess. Can she hit the high 17s? It’s likely.
Will she become prized Division I material? Schools like Tennesse, Mississippi and Penn State are already sending letters to her house.
Maybe the mystery is part of the allure.
Whether it’s the 200, 400, 800, 1,600 or mile in the spring or the 5,000-meter in the fall, the Homer Center product has shown she’s capable of transforming to whichever race is expected out of her.
“I’m not going full distance yet,” Piccirillo says. “I won’t be running the two-mile in track or anything.”
She shouldn’t sell herself short.
PA 67 Watch List for NXN and Foot Locker contenders - Sept 17 Update (by Jayson Jackson)
Boys - Teams
Altoona-Dominated both meets so far by scoring 21 and 45 points
Baldwin-2nd at Red, White, and Blue Classic to #2 North Allegheny
Conrad Wesier-Opened the season with a win at the Maroon & Gold Classic
Cumberland Valley-Waiting for them to open the season
North Allegheny-Opened up with a win at Red, White, and Blue Classic over #3 Baldwin and #6 North Hills
West Chester Henderson-Won Quad X HS Invite with 30-second spread between top two relay teams
Girls - Teams
Central Bucks East-Won home invite over #6 North Penn without #2 runner
Cumberland Valley-Waiting for them to open the season
Downingtown East-Won Centaur Invite
North Allegheny-Won Red, White, and Blue classic using a 23-second compression
North Hills-2nd at Red, White, and Blue Classic to #2 North Allegheny
Pennsbury-Cruised in first two meets scoring 38 and 39 points
Boys - Individuals
Reece Ayers, Tunkhannock-Dominated the field at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invite
Wade Endress, Altoona-Undefeated on the season including a 15:26 win at PTXC2
Ryan Gil, North Allegheny-Returning qualifier, 4th at Red, White, and Blue
Zach Hebda, North Hills-Current leader of North Hills’ Three Headed Monster
Alex Isewksi, Central Bucks West-Undefeated on the season with two sub-16 clockings
Jacob Kildoo, Grove City-X+1 a year ago, waiting for him to open the season
Ed Schrom, Central Dauphin-Ran stride for stride with Endress at PTXC2
Girls - Individuals
Leigha Anderson, Cumberland Valley-Waiting for her to open the season
Katie Kinkead, Central Bucks East-Opened the season with runner-up finish behind McGovern
Margo Malone, North Hills-Still holds title as the fastest in the family after photo finish win over sister Shannon at Red, White, and Blue Classic
Meghan McGovern, North Penn-Defeated Kinkead for the win at the Central Bucks East Invite
Angel Picirillo, Homer Center-FL Soph Champ in 2009. Went with Aisling Cuffe at PTXC 2 and finished second, only 14 seconds behind Sargent’s winning time from last year.
Sara Sargent, Pennsbury-Returning qualifier. Has dominated both victories this season
Leah Anne Wirfel, Forest Hills-Undefeated on the season, running 18:30 or better in both wins
The Lower Dauphin girls have a one-two punch
who could lead the team to some big District 3 goals.
By CORY MULL
Special for PennTrackXC.com
She walked over to the reporter unassumingly, like she hadn’t realized what just took place minutes before. But behind her quiet shell, DeeDee Shea had to know.
Shea (#334) at the start of the Varsity A Race at PTXC-2 - photo by Don Rich
She had to understand how fast she just ran, right?
It was hard to notice, considering Shea, a freshman for the Lower Dauphin girls’ cross country team, kept her words to a minimum and responded with little reflection.
And yet, there it was, the sixth fastest time in Pennsylvania and the third best effort on Saturday in the the PTXC-2 Cross Country Invitational Varsity A girls’ race.
Only two seconds behind second-place Angel Piccirillo of Homer Center, who finished fifth in the PIAA Class AA meet last season at Hershey, was Shea’s 18:26.
What did her coach, John Butler, a former standout cross standout at LaSalle University and Cedar Cliff high school grad, have to think about it?
“That it was really good,” Shea let out, giggling.
It sure was.
Lower Dauphin finished 20th at states in 2009, but the expectations have risen dramatically.
Shea’s race was the kind of performance that only solidified Butler‘s belief going into this season. Before Shea was even on board, he had high expectations for the Falcons, who are experienced with two seniors and two juniors within its top five.
Shea approaching the mile - Photo by Doug Michaels
But he admitted it would be a disappointment if the Falcons didn’t make the state meet with the talent they have back in 2010. With Shea, whose time now stands as the sixth best in Pennsylvania, Butler has a dangerous team with rising ambitions.
Fortunately for the Falcons, it’s not just Shea up front. Junior Jenna Flickinger is a two-time District 3 Class AAA medalist and state qualifier. The slender, fleet-footed harrier finished 13th overall on Saturday, clocking in at 19:25. And the Falcons’ third, fourth and fifth placers all finished under 21-minutes.
So it made for a rather surprising turn in a star-studded race on Saturday when Lower Dauphin, an upstart large-school program with a lot to prove, parked in third place on Saturday, ahead of highly rated Academy of Notre Dame, Manheim Township, Saint Basil Academy and Solanco.
Just last year the Falcons were 20th in districts. But thanks to an impressive showing on Saturday, Lower Dauphin has shot up the Class AAA radar, just behind state-ranked Cumberland Valley, which has hopes of challenging for a state title in the large-school division.
A lot of the Falcon’s promise is owed to its hard work over the summer, but without Shea, the Falcons were one missing piece away. The home schooled runner only started competing in the seventh grade, but clocked a 5:28 mile in junior high track last year.
“We knew she was very talented,“ Butler said. “But DeeDee is team-oriented first. DeeDee, I think, wants to come in and make sure that she just does her part. We had the girls write their goals before the season and DeeDee’s goals were to contribute to the team however she could.
“I’ve never set those [high] expectations for DeeDee. You never really expect that much from a freshman.”
The Falcons were only one regular season meet deep when they found themselves on the Franklin & Marshall campus for the PTXC-2 invite, a selection of talented teams and runners from all regions. There was New York’s Aisling Cuffe of Cornwall, who set an amazing benchmark with a winning time of 17:17, currently US#1.
There was West Chester Henderson, a highly proven District 1 program, and Osbourn Park of Virginia, which finished second overall.
Lower Dauphin, which competes in the Mid-Penn Keystone, won its division and went undefeated last year. Yet, there was a small void in the Falcons’ season. There was no district team trophy, no berth in states. That’s why Butler’s mood has changed in only the second year on the job. He took over from Craig Cassel, the Falcons’ long tenured coach, in 2009.
“More importantly than reminding me, [this meet] shows them what we’ve been telling them every day in practice,” Butler said. “We’re not just selling them nonsense. I always tell my kids, if you’re not very good, I’m not going to tell you we can make states. I will never sell you on that point.
“So I think we make very realistic goals at the beginning of the year and this is our goal. And I would think that, to not make states, would be a disappointment. It’s not just a goal, we want to do it.”
Changing dynamic didn’t spark debate. It only helped solidify the Falcons vision come postseason.
For Flickinger, whose career best was a 19:24 last year at the Carlisle Invitational, she believes the addition of Shea into the lineup only helps team morale.
Flickinger approaching the mile - Photo by Doug Michaels
“I'm just really excited,” Flickinger said. “Our team has never been this good since I've been here. It's just really exciting that, in my junior year, we can have all these girls that are all together. It makes it feel more like a team. A team unified.”
As a freshman, Flickinger infused quickly into Lower Dauphin’s plans and became the team’s No. 1 as her times dropped significantly over the season. As a sophomore, her times dipped below 20-minutes for the first time. She recorded at least two sub-20 minute times of 19:57 and 19:24 in 2009.
She finished 6th in the Mid-Penn conference meet and 40th at district, qualifying for a spot in states.
When Shea came on board, though, it pushed Flickinger down a beat. She still was a team captain, but no longer was she the best. That didn’t discourage her.
“It's really nice to have someone there that can push you,” Flickinger said. “In today's race I saw her ahead of me and knew exactly where I should be and I was pushing myself to be with her.
“I've never had that before, so it's really nice. In workouts we'll work together and we'll help each other. It's nice to have someone there that's up with me.”
As the season progresses, Butler said, the Falcons are going to have to find a way to win.
Flickinger, along with seniors Aleiyah Ross and Mary Cooper, were named the Falcons captains in 2010. Heading into the PTXC-2 invite this past Saturday, Butler gave the group a choice.
Run in the A race, against better competition, and see how you do. Or run in the B race and likely win the race.
Shea and Flickinge finish - Photo by Don Rich
“When we saw this year that they were breaking into two races, A and B, I pulled the girl captains aside because I thought we could run with some of these teams, from seeing us in practice,” Butler said. “But it’s one thing with you seeing it and another thing when the girls believe in themselves and do it.”
“With today's turnout, I think [qualifying for states is] definitely a possibility,” Flickinger said. “We're all excited. It's pushing us and I'm excited to see how things go.”
Ultimately, Butler said, his team will have to show great resolve if it hopes to capture the school’s first state qualifying berth in program history.
Butler spoke of a former coach at Syracuse University, which told him something he preaches to this day.
“Winners find a way to win,” Butler said. “There’s a reason why Bernard Lagat and Usain Bolt, every race you see them in, they’re first or they’re second. They’re never way out the back. There’s a reason.
“Winners always find a way. They don’t make excuses. If they’re having a bad day, you probably don’t know it. They find a way to get it done.”
The Falcons, at least initially, have shown they have the ability.
Now the question remains: Can they make it happen?
The Cat is back at Central Bucks East
after a summer of searching. And discovery.
Don Rich
PennTrackXC.com
Top PA and Central Bucks East distance star Katie Kinkead (US #25 on the MileSplit.us Super 50) had a couple of good cries this summer.
One was after getting some really bad news at her track team banquet in June.
The other was in sheer joy at the first team pasta party of this year's cross country season.
The first had to do with an announcement by the only distance coach she has known in her three year high school career. He would be leaving to pursue a dream of coaching in college.
The last was when that same coach returned to the Central Bucks East fold. Just two weeks after starting a volunteer coaching position at Penn, he had some doubts about the cost his dream might truly exact from him.
Matt Catinella – or 'Coach Cat' as Kinkead calls him – is indeed back at CB East.
And Katie Kinkead is beyond thrilled.
She is thankful for the confidence she can get from the coach who took her from a (occasionally) workout skipping freshman, to a three-season all-state runner as a junior. A runner who just missed out on three state titles by a few ticks of the clock and one athlete. But that's another story that will be told as this season unfolds.
Kinkead was not always the focused, detail oriented, gotta-understand-the-workout athlete she has become.
And Catinella wasn't – until recently – the person who had both feet firmly planted as a high school coach instead of as a coach with one foot out the door toward the next level.
Katie really did skip workouts.
"My coaches probably don't even know this," Kinkead admits. "But I would sometimes skip training runs and go for pizza or for candy."
And it showed.
She had been a club soccer player, whose dad, Jim, had been a cross country runner in high school. He encouraged her to do a few 5K's, just to try it out. She ran in the low 20's, and would win her age group.
She took his advice and went out for cross country as a freshman.
She wasn't super serious about it. Pizza and candy tell that story.
That would change in 10th grade.
Matt knew he wanted to be a coach. And CB East was his break.
Catinella is a graduate of Archbishop Ryan. And after a career in the 800 and cross at Rider University, he returned to his alma mater and served as an assistant for a year.
He was working as a counselor at a mental health home for children, and a fellow employee who had left to become a school nurse at CB East told him about a job opening to help coach cross country with head coach Sam Losorelli.
He got the job as assistant coach for cross, and to work with both Sam and track coach Gerry Stemplewicz as the mid-distance and distance coach.
That indoors, Kinkead clocked a 6:06 mile.
Her group of friends was changing, and she decided to forgo soccer in the spring. She didn't think she was good enough to be on the varsity in track, so she took the option of running with the middle school (junior high) team that spring.
"After the season," she says, "I knew I was not very good."
So over the summer, she increased the training. Problem was, it wasn't entirely to plan, and was too much and too intense.
By the time cross hit, she was 'dead.'
That winter, Coach Cat sat her down and explained his program. He pointed out that racing hard in every practice was not an option, and that using that method, she would definitely not improve.
She listened. It started clicking.
And that indoor she qualified for states in the 3000. She would finish 19th.
But the states-bug had bitten.
She qualified for states in the spring in the 3200 and walked off with her first medal - a 7th place.
After her successful sophomore season, she set a goal of top 25 at states in cross country as a junior. Most importantly, she followed the summer plan.
She took 2nd.
And in successive state championship finals, she had harrowing, thrilling and epic races and finishes in the 3000 in indoor and in the 3200 in outdoor – settling for the runner-up spot in both.
"I was not expecting my junior year" she admits.
Coach Cat was going through his own search.
It wasn't that Catinella wasn't happy at CB East. He was having a great time.
He had gotten his masters, and he was looking to finally chase his other dream.
Since he graduated from Rider in 2005, he had had a dream of coaching at the Division I college level.
Last spring he saw an opportunity.
He also had one heck on a mentor on the subject – "Uncle" Marty Stern – the legendary Villanova coach, who had also guided Central Bucks East.
"We would meet once a week for a few hours, and he would give me his best advice on following my dream." says Catinella.
"And he was honest with me about the time commitment and the sacrifices you have to make to be a D1 coach."
Stern also was friends with University of Pennsylvania women's head coach Gwen Harris.
So when an opening occurred for a volunteer assistant with the women's cross country program, Stern recommended Catinella.
Talk about an opening!
That decision was easy. But telling his team was not. "I got emotional at the banquet," Catinella says.
The excitement of being at Franklin Field and knowing he was embarking on the first step in a long-held dream gave him some satisfaction, and relief.
Catinella said the high of having the opportunity of following a dream didn't last very long.
"Something did not feel right."
He talked with Coach Stern. He talked with Coach Losorelli.
He also listened to himself.
He changed his mind. His career at Penn would last a total of two weeks.
"Penn and Coach Harris were great. The team was great. This had nothing to do with them."
He followed their advice and decided to try to go back to CB East to coach.
In just a summer, he had gone from following a dream to realizing that he had what he wanted right in front of him. "In college, it's more about mentoring the athletes," he says. "In high school, they rely on you more. And that's the difference."
Losorelli – whom Catinella says has been an incredible friend from day one, through everything – welcomed him back, giving him his old duties of coaching distance.
The pasta party that changed Kinkead's outlook.
The night before the Viking Invitational on Friday September 3rd, Central Bucks East did what many teams do before a meet – they did some team-building, masquerading as carb loading.
Coach Losorelli thought it was an appropriate time for a speech on the choices people make.
He told them that Coach Cat was coming to the party.
"Great," thought Kinkead. "I can ask him some training questions."
Actually she did. She confirmed that her summer training was done right. He assured her that she had accomplished everything he would have given her.
Losorelli told the team why Catinella had left CB East. He talked about choices.
And then he told them the news. Cat was back.
Kinkead couldn't hold it back.
This time though, the tears were of joy.
The next day, Kinkead did not race. It was never in the plans, because she always opens at her home meet, the second Saturday of the month. Big races will come soon enough.
Coach Cat and Kinkead are really excited about their team this year.
In addition to Kinkead, 3rd girl sophomore Veronica Eder was held out of Friday's race at Tamanend Park. Plug those two as bookends on 2nd girl, senior Jenny Guildera – who was 4th in the race – and suddenly CB East isn't 7th as a team, but possibly second.
There are no more tears coming from the Central Bucks East camp. There are races to be run.
But more importantly, dreams to be fulfilled.
We'll tell you about those as they unfold.
The Central Bucks East pre-season top-seven
Katie Kinkead (SR)
Jenny Guidera (SR)
Veronica Eder (SO)
Sarah Latch (SO)
Kara Shen (JR)
Jackie Patterson (JR)
Louise Huuki (FR)
