Articles

2004 PTFCA All-State XC Teams Announced Don Rich Nov 11, 2004

The 2004 All-State Cross Country Team was selected by a committee of the PTFCA (PA Track & Field Coaches Association) on 11/11 taking into consideration honors won, quality and consistency of performance and head-to-head competition. Congratulations to all new All-State athletes. (Photo of Katie Thaeder at PIAA States by James K. Wood)

A belated congrats to Jeff Weiss Don Rich Nov 9, 2004

Congratulations to Jeff Weiss of McGuffey, who set a new course record with his winning time of 15:45, topping the 15:50 run by two-time AAA state champ Craig Miller, set in 2003.

11/6-Cedar Cliff overcomes Coatesville (and pressure) to win by five. Craig Miller repeats in AAA Don Rich Nov 7, 2004

The feeling of anxiety was palpable, even an hour after the race. And that was from the winning coach. On Saturday, they met their toughest competition of the season, holding off a talented young Coatesville team by just five points. Craig Miller actually had someone with him at 2.5 miles, but then pulled away for his second consecutive championship. And two of PA\'s top runners lost shoes very early in the race.

11/6-Katie Thaeder leads powerful Unionville to individual and team titles in AAA Girls Don Rich Nov 7, 2004

To hear the coach tell it, the seniors deserve credit for team leadership. To hear the top senior tell it, the freshman deserve the credit for doing the work. To hear others tell it, Unionville defines team. This team has been built from the ground up over eight years. The result was an individual title for senior Katie Thaeder, and a team title for Unionville. Plus, a crash may have cost some talented runners a place on the stage.

11/6-Scranton Prep back on top. Jeff Weiss wins in 15:45, fastest of day in AA Boys Don Rich Nov 7, 2004

How would your team like to win the state title 80% of the time? Then ask Scranton Prep. Their top runner, Jack Doherty, got the last medal in 25th, a second under 17 minutes. But 47 seconds later, four of his teammates were across the line and they had their 4th team championship in the last five years. Senior Jeff Weiss of McGuffey from D7 is having a dream year. He\'s run the table in PA with wins over the past three weeks at Tri-States, D7 and now a state title in the fastest time of the day, 15:45.

11/6-Lynn Morelli and St. Basil survive and win AA by 20. Frosh Rachel Erny fastest of day in 18:50. Don Rich Nov 7, 2004

Saint Basil Academy didn\'t make States in 2003. They missed advancing from District 1 AA by two points to a very good Gwynedd Mercy team. This year, they stayed healthy and didn\'t leave anything to chance. But things happen. And Brentwood frosh Rachel Erny stayed patient through the mile, stayed on the competition after two, and then won her first state championship in the fastest time of the day, 18:50.

11/4-A team that starts with C will win. So will a Miller in AAA Boys Don Rich Nov 4, 2004

This team not only wants to win another state championship, they want to end the season as one of the top teams in the nation by capping the whole thing with a trip to Portland to race the inaugural Nike Team Championships. But first things first. Cedar Cliff believes they put too much effort into last year\'s District 3 championship. They may have a point. Craig Miller seeks to defend his 2003 State Championship. While the lead pack has a lot of talent, it could be his twin who provides the most competition.

11/4-Katie Thaeder and Unionville should have a lot to celebrate in Girls AAA Don Rich Nov 4, 2004

There are two PA teams ranked in the top five in the Northeast US. One is in the boys AAA race, while the other is in this one. Last week, Unionville showed patience and poise in methodically dismantling the strong teams of D1 with a remarkable 18:42 team average on the always fast Lehigh University course. Katie Thaeder\'s first priority on Saturday will be to race well for her favored Unionville team. Racing well would mean starting off just as she did at her D1 meet, with one point.

11/4-Weiss vs. Christiansen - Scranton Prep vs Greensburg Central Catholic in Boys AA Don Rich Nov 4, 2004

At first glance, the team race seems to be a toss-up. But look closely at the district results, factor in the course difficulty, and you can begin to narrow the field of favorites to just two, Scranton Prep and Greensburg Central Catholic. Unfortunately for the AA guys who had been waiting for Chris Spooner to graduate, McGuffey dropped from AAA to AA this year. With that move, the front of the AA race changed completely.

11/4-Saint Basil will erase the sting of 2003 in Girls AA - as a team and individually Don Rich Nov 4, 2004

Last year\'s frustration of missing qualification for States by a mere two points will be forgotten by Saint Basil. This is their year, individually and as a team. The defending champs from Dallas could give them a scare, but Basil\'s 19:08 average at the District 1 race was so dominant, only one team in the state is running better, and that\'s the #5 team in the Northeast US, Unionville. Individually, Lynn Morelli should lead get a state title. Her 18:07 at the Lehigh course was only surpassed by Unionville\'s Katie Thaeder. But the race won\'t be easy, because there are plenty of challengers.

8/20-Team race is wide open, Jed Christiansen is early favorite in AA Boys XC Aaron Rich Aug 20, 2004

The team race looks wide open as last years top teams lose talent. The favorite for the individual title has to be Jed Christiansen, a senior from Greenville. Jed was third last year behind David Mock and Chris Spooner. His challengers appear to be Frank Eanes, a senior from Westmont Hilltop, who should step to the front with teammate Mock running at William & Mary; Lane King, a junior from Fairview, junior Jake Walker and senior Sam Weiser, both from Ellwood City.