Cross Country Roundup: Results, Winners & Top Finishers from September 15th

 

 

---

 

If you like this type of coverage, please let us know by Following us on social media: Twitter/X – @lebcosports1 and Facebook.

For any questions, comments, or discrepancies, please reach out to dan@lebcosports.com.

 

 

---

 

Lebanon County’s cross country teams were back on the course Tuesday for another round of league competition, with local programs competing in meets across the Lancaster-Lebanon League and Mid-Penn Conference.

Annville-Cleona and ELCO went head-to-head in Myerstown, Cedar Crest hosted Ephrata and Hempfield, and Lebanon traveled to Conestoga Valley. Palmyra was also in action, though complete results from the Cougars’ meet were not yet available at the time of publication.

The day included a pair of one-point County battles, several individual victories, and another strong showing from Cedar Crest.

---

How Are Cross Country Dual Meets Scored?

For those who may be new to cross country, team scoring is based on place rather than time. Each team’s first five finishers count toward its score. Their finishing places are added together, and the team with the lowest total wins.

For example, if a team’s first five runners finish 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th, its score is 25 points. The sixth and seventh runners do not add points to their team’s score, but they can still be important because their finishing positions can push an opponent’s scoring runners farther back.

When three or more teams race together, the meet is generally scored as a series of head-to-head matchups. That is why Cedar Crest, Lebanon, and McCaskey have separate scores for each pairing even though everyone competed in the same race.

At the time of publication, results from the Northern Lebanon meet at Octorara had not been received. 

---

Annville-Cleona at ELCO

Girls

Annville-Cleona controlled the front of the girls race, taking the first four positions and five of the first seven on its way to a 17-40 victory over ELCO.

Lucy Stellmach and Paige Stoltz crossed together at the front, with Stellmach officially taking first and Stoltz second, both in 23:06. Emily Shearer followed in third at 23:24, with Bridget Funck fourth in 23:26.

ELCO’s first two runners came across next. Paityn Newswanger finished fifth in 23:47 and Sarah Badallato was sixth in 24:40. Annville-Cleona’s Anna Rotunda finished seventh in 24:45 to complete the Little Dutchmen’s scoring five.

Girls Top 10 Finishers

1. 1. Lucy Stellmach, Annville-Cleona — 23:06
   2. Paige Stoltz, Annville-Cleona — 23:06
   3. Emily Shearer, Annville-Cleona — 23:24
   4. Bridget Funck, Annville-Cleona — 23:26
   5. Paityn Newswanger, ELCO — 23:47
   6. Sarah Badallato, ELCO — 24:40
   7. Anna Rotunda, Annville-Cleona — 24:45
   8. Cali Miller, ELCO — 25:27
   9. Kennedy Sanders, Annville-Cleona — 25:54
   10. Allison Polynone, ELCO — 27:50

Team Score

Annville-Cleona 17, ELCO 40

Boys

The boys race provided one of Tuesday’s closest team battles, with Annville-Cleona edging ELCO 27-28.

Benjamin Boyd gave the Little Dutchmen an important point at the front by winning the race in 16:49. ELCO responded immediately with Max Frederick second in 17:29 and Cru Frederick third in 17:35.

Annville-Cleona’s Hunter Troxell took fourth in 18:51 before Sawyer Shanaman finished fifth for ELCO in 19:01. Oliver Brandt and Jayden Jorge then crossed sixth and seventh for A-C, while Gradyn Sanders finished ninth to complete the Little Dutchmen’s scoring five and help secure the one-point victory.

Boys Top 10 Finishers

1. 1. Benjamin Boyd, Annville-Cleona — 16:49
   2. Max Frederick, ELCO — 17:29
   3. Cru Frederick, ELCO — 17:35
   4. Hunter Troxell, Annville-Cleona — 18:51
   5. Sawyer Shanaman, ELCO — 19:01
   6. Oliver Brandt, Annville-Cleona — 19:02
   7. Jayden Jorge, Annville-Cleona — 19:28
   8. Nicolas Wolfe, ELCO — 19:40
   9. Gradyn Sanders, Annville-Cleona — 20:01
   10. Joash Jalique, ELCO — 20:29

Team Score

Annville-Cleona 27, ELCO 28

---

---

Cedar Crest vs. Ephrata & Hempfield

Cedar Crest hosted Ephrata and Hempfield in a three-team L-L League meet, meaning the boys and girls competed in combined races while being scored separately against each opponent.

Girls

Cedar Crest split its two girls decisions, defeating Ephrata 20-43 before falling to Hempfield 26-31.

Hempfield claimed the individual victory, with Elianna Vargas finishing first in 20:54. Cedar Crest’s Madisyn Willis was the first Falcon across the line, taking third overall in 21:24.

The Falcons also received top finishes from Clara Schneider, Sophie Meli, J’Liana Reyes, and Caroline Maisto as they earned the win over Ephrata and battled Hempfield in a five-point decision.

Girls Top 10 Finishers

1. 1. Elianna Vargas, Hempfield — 20:54
   2. Abigail Buckbee, Ephrata — 21:16
   3. Madisyn Willis, Cedar Crest — 21:24
   4. Mia Pfautz, Ephrata — 22:31
   5. Emma Jahn, Hempfield — 22:49
   6. Clara Schneider, Cedar Crest — 22:50
   7. Sophie Meli, Cedar Crest — 22:54
   8. Emma Kilheffer, Ephrata — 23:01
   9. Sienna Houseman, Hempfield — 23:22
   10. Madison Smith, Hempfield — 23:30

Team Scores

Cedar Crest 20, Ephrata 43
Hempfield 26, Cedar Crest 31

Boys

Cedar Crest came away with a sweep in the boys dual scoring, defeating Ephrata 19-44 and Hempfield 22-36.

Hempfield’s Zach Margut won the overall race in 16:58, but Cedar Crest quickly packed runners near the front. Henry Wengert was second in 17:02, while Liam Hodge took third, also in 17:02.

Wyatt Wolfe added a fourth-place finish in 17:25, giving the Falcons three of the first four finishers. That strong presence near the front helped Cedar Crest secure victories over both opponents.

Boys Top 10 Finishers

1. 1. Zach Margut, Hempfield — 16:58
   2. Henry Wengert, Cedar Crest — 17:02
   3. Liam Hodge, Cedar Crest — 17:02
   4. Wyatt Wolfe, Cedar Crest — 17:25
   5. Carlo Abello, Hempfield — 17:36
   6. Avery Gatto, Cedar Crest — 17:47
   7. Isaac Moore, Hempfield — 18:03
   8. Cameran Willis, Cedar Crest — 18:13
   9. Josh Paglia, Ephrata — 18:19
   10. Andrew Moore, Hempfield — 18:21

Team Scores
Cedar Crest 19, Ephrata 44
Cedar Crest 22, Hempfield 36

 

 

---

---

Lebanon at Conestoga Valley

Girls

Lebanon did not field a runner in the girls race. As a result, Conestoga Valley received the 15-50 team victory.

Conestoga Valley’s Rachel Leaman won the race in 20:34, followed by Leila Testa in 21:20 and Cailyn Denlinger in 22:23.

Team Score: Conestoga Valley 15, Lebanon 50

Boys

Lebanon came within five points of Conestoga Valley in the boys race, falling 27-32 despite putting three runners among the first five finishers.

Samuel Hershey earned the individual victory, covering the course in 17:41. Conestoga Valley’s Ethan Schnapf was second in 18:12 before Jovannie Martinez crossed third for Lebanon in 18:35.

Trystan Steckbeck gave the Cedars another high finish, taking fifth in 18:50. Conestoga Valley, however, placed five runners among the first eight and used that depth to secure the team victory.

Boys Top 10 Finishers

1. 1. Samuel Hershey, Lebanon — 17:41
   2. Ethan Schnapf, Conestoga Valley — 18:12
   3. Jovannie Martinez, Lebanon — 18:35
   4. Caleb Martin, Conestoga Valley — 18:43
   5. Trystan Steckbeck, Lebanon — 18:50
   6. Cole Hershey, Conestoga Valley — 18:51
   7. Colin Craighead, Conestoga Valley — 19:15
   8. Owen Szabo, Conestoga Valley — 19:21
   9. Reagan Schnapf, Conestoga Valley — 20:07
   10. Owen Glick, Conestoga Valley — 20:08

Team Score

Conestoga Valley 27, Lebanon 32

---

---

Palmyra vs. Cedar Cliff

Palmyra came away with a sweep in its Mid-Penn Keystone matchup with Cedar Cliff on Tuesday, with both races producing relatively close team scores.

The Cougar boys earned a 27-29 victory, while the Palmyra girls defeated Cedar Cliff 23-34.

Complete individual results from the meet were not yet available at the time of publication. The roundup will be updated with Palmyra’s top finishers and times when those results become available.

Team Scores:
Boys: Palmyra 27, Cedar Cliff 29
Girls: Palmyra 23, Cedar Cliff 34