Cross Country: Lebanon, State Contenders Compete at 20th PIAA Foundation Meet

 

 

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Lebanon, State Contenders Compete at 20th PIAA Foundation Meet

The PIAA Foundation Cross Country Invitational has long served as one of the biggest regular-season measuring sticks in Pennsylvania. This year’s 20th edition carried additional significance.

Saturday’s meet was held at Big Spring High School in Newville, a course that has served as the home of the District 3 Cross Country Championships since 2015. This November, however, Big Spring will take on an even larger role when it hosts the PIAA Cross Country Championships for the first time.

That made Saturday an important preview. Runners from across Pennsylvania had an opportunity to compete on the same course that will determine the state champions later this fall.

Lebanon was the lone Lebanon County school represented at the meet, competing in the Boys AAA race. The Cedars finished 29th in a loaded 32-team field, while senior Samuel Hershey led the Cedars with a 77th-place finish.

The meet featured separate races for all three PIAA classifications on both the boys and girls sides.

Boys AAA

For Lebanon, Saturday was an opportunity to test itself against a field that included many of Pennsylvania’s top Class AAA programs.

Samuel Hershey led the Cedars, finishing 77th out of 216 runners with a time of 17:33.5. Senior Trystan Steckbeck was Lebanon’s second finisher, placing 181st in 19:30.7. Freshmen Ian Aviles and Jowmi Torres Nieves followed in 188th and 189th with times of 19:43.8 and 19:44.7.

Junior Jovannie Martinez finished 204th in 20:51.9, while sophomore Angel Miranda rounded out Lebanon’s group in 21:37.3. The Cedars placed 29th as a team with 839 points.

Several other District 3 runners made their presence felt near the front. Manheim Township senior Ben Doumaux placed 10th in 16:00.2, with teammate Stephen Atteberry 13th in 16:03.3. Hershey senior Max Hulays was 18th in 16:17.4. Manheim Township finished fourth in the team standings, with Hershey just one point behind in fifth.

State College senior Luke Bradbury won the individual race in 15:10.2. Norwin captured the team championship with 59 points, ahead of La Salle College with 83 and State College with 85.

 

Individual Champion: Luke Bradbury, State College — 15:10.2
Team Champion: Norwin — 59 points

Girls AAA

While no Lebanon County team competed in the Girls AAA race, several District 3 runners and teams turned in noteworthy performances.

Hershey senior Lauren Nutt finished 27th in 20:05.7, while Manheim Township sophomore Ariel Hu was 34th in 20:20.7. Manheim Township finished 10th in the team standings, while Hershey placed 22nd.

Peters Township sophomore Kathryn Froelich turned in the fastest girls performance of the day, winning the AAA race in 17:22.9. Angela Zeng of South Fayette was second in 17:50.4, while Williamsport’s Isabelle Sanders took third in 18:11.0.

State College won a tight team competition with 103 points, finishing ahead of Norwin with 110 and Fox Chapel with 116.

 

Individual Champion: Kathryn Froelich, Peters Township — 17:22.9
Team Champion: State College — 103 points

Boys AA

Some of the strongest District 3 performances of the day came in Boys AA.

Big Spring junior Asher Baker took advantage of racing on his home course, finishing fourth overall in 16:19.4. Octorara freshman Jack McGinnis also turned in an impressive performance, placing 11th overall in 16:48.9.

The race belonged to Quaker Valley senior Jonah Montagnese, who crossed in 15:24.1. North Catholic’s Jack Steineman was second in 15:55.3, followed by Bellefonte’s Jonathan Gasper in 16:06.2.

Quaker Valley also claimed the team title with 141 points, holding off Danville with 160, North Catholic with 192, and Central Cambria with 199.

 

Individual Champion: Jonah Montagnese, Quaker Valley — 15:24.1
Team Champion: Quaker Valley — 141 points

Girls AA

Wellsboro senior Lauren Kosek won the Girls AA race in 18:08.1. Somerset senior Emily Fisher was second in 18:47.6, with Jim Thorpe sophomore Logan Gillespie third in 18:53.9.

Central Cambria used its depth to win the team championship with 87 points. North Catholic was second with 116 and Cathedral Prep finished third with 127.

Among runners closer to home, Big Spring sophomore Madeline Moyer finished 26th overall in 20:40.0.

 

Individual Champion: Lauren Kosek, Wellsboro — 18:08.1
Team Champion: Central Cambria — 87 points

Boys A

Sewickley Academy junior Zachary Sharara won the Boys A race with a time of 15:51.9. Reeve Flotta of Winchester Thurston was second in 16:16.2, while Bishop Carroll sophomore Noah Knobloch finished third in 16:18.3.

Winchester Thurston placed four runners among the first 16 overall finishers and won the team championship with 74 points. Riverside was second with 86, followed by Neshannock with 199.

 

Individual Champion: Zachary Sharara, Sewickley Academy — 15:51.9
Team Champion: Winchester Thurston — 74 points

Girls A

The closest individual finish of the six varsity races came in Girls A.

Cranberry senior Beatrice Kolesar won in 19:43.4, edging Elk County Catholic freshman Lane Schreiber, who finished just one-tenth of a second behind in 19:43.5. Elk Lake junior Kendyl Weisgold was third in 20:13.0.

Our Lady of Sacred Heart put three runners inside the top six and captured the team championship with 50 points. Winchester Thurston finished second with 105, while Cranberry was third with 133.

 

Individual Champion: Beatrice Kolesar, Cranberry — 19:43.4
Team Champion: Our Lady of Sacred Heart — 50 points

A Preview of November

For District 3 runners, Big Spring is hardly unfamiliar territory. The Newville course has hosted the District 3 Championships since 2015, making it an annual destination for many of the area’s top runners.

What changes this fall is what comes next.

For the first time, the PIAA Championships will also be contested at Big Spring, meaning runners who advance through Districts will return to the same course for the biggest meet of the season.

Saturday’s Foundation Meet offered an early opportunity to see how some of Pennsylvania’s top runners and teams handle the new state championship course. For the runners who made the trip to Newville, it also provided a valuable first look at a course they will be hoping to see again when the state’s best return for the PIAA Championships in November.

Full Results