Brad and Craig Miller, and soph Vince McNally
set a pace no one else matched.
NOTE: This season we begin a new approach to our coverage, posting a weekend preview that becomes summary as our lead article, and then adding to it through the week. As results, stories and photos are added, you'll see them in the What's Related and Related Articles links to the right. And if you don't see meet results in the meet link to the right, it means we have not yet received results for that meet.
Results now on for all except BLUE-GOLD.
It was a day when two Christiansen course records were broken by two very good runners, Jake Walker of Ellwood City and Kacey Gibson of Neshannock at the Big Red Invitational.
The latest proof that one freshman can make a big difference came in the person of Natalie Bower of Latrobe. She simply refused to be intimidated by a talented field at the growing Red, White & Blue Classic in Pittsburgh's Schenley Park, leading her Latrobe mates to a win over powers Mount Lebanon and North Allegheny. Scott Van Kooten, Pittsburgh Central Catholic, over North Allegheny senior Max Brown, but NA wins team title.
Jake Walker got off to a great start,
breaking a Jed Christiansen CR.
A foggy, cool morning gave way to the best prep 5K in PA in over a decade, as senior Craig Miller was challenged by Conestoga Valley sophomore Vince McNally, breaking the finish line in 14:56. McNally was clocked at 15:02. Manheim Township won by 20. Allentown Central Catholic rebounds from a loss last weekend, to win by six over Chambersburg.
In Abington, West Chester East ran the course and the competition to perfection, beating NE#5 Coatesville. Gwynedd-Mercy's girls beat Henderson.
At the Centaur Inv at DeSales University, Chanelle Price again led her Easton team to a win, this time not over just one for state championship team, but over three.
Kate Rose continued her winning ways, taking her second consecutive big meet win, while Paul Springer took over as Unionville's top man at the Central Bucks East Invitational.
Central Cambria wins two teams titles as sophomore Carly Seymour sets a course record at the Forest Hills Invitational.
Frosh Natalie Bower (R) beat a strong field
at the Red, White & Blue Classic,
including Kelley O'Brien.
York Suburban graduated twin talents, but they're still on top. Senior Emily Perina and Freshman Molly Smith went one-two at the Lebanon Valley Invitational. St. Joseph's Prep won the boys race with an Indian Valley runner the overall champ.
Mercersburg Academy finised 4th in the Boys' White Race with 117 points behind the 6th place 18:12 by Griffin Burns and the 8th place 18:24 by James Finucane.
LaSalle was on home ground at the Triple Threat race at Belmont Plateau. The unique 2K, 3K 5K format makes teams put their best runners in specific races. In the varsity girls race, it was Upper Dublin winning in 2:01.47 by just over a minute.
The Twin Valley Boys placed first and set a new course record of 44:54 beating the previous record set by West Chester Henderson in 2003. And the St. Pius X girls used a big 3rd leg to come from behind to beat Lancaster Mennonite's B team.
Miller approaching the line with McNally close.
WEEKEND INTRO
It'll be Craig Miller going for an unprecedented 4th straight Gettysburg Invitational title. But he'll have competition from one of Gettysburg's own, plus his brother Brad, a state champ in the 3200 and a very fast sophomore from his own league. The girls team race will be burning. And there is a whole lot more action statewide this weekend, including the young and growing Red, White & Blue Classic in Pittsburgh... so enjoy. It's Week #2 in PA!