From LebCo to Nationals: Local Runners Compete at Cross Country Championships

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A busy championship Saturday saw several Lebanon County athletes shine on some of the biggest stages in cross country. From NCAA national championships in Wisconsin and South Carolina to elite high school racing in New York, local runners continued to make their mark as the postseason reached its peak.

NCAA Division II Championships

In Kenosha, Wisconsin, four Lebanon County alumni competed in the Division II national 10K on Saturday. Leading the group was Caleb Hershey (Lebanon ’23) of Colorado Christian, who finished 81st overall in 31:23.1 and placed third for a Cougars squad that earned 7th place in the team standings.

Shippensburg University was represented by Ryan Wolfe (Cedar Crest ’22) and Ramon Urena Batista (Lebanon ’24). Wolfe ran 32:00.0 to finish 125th, while Urena Batista placed 209th in 32:52.2, helping the Raiders secure 17th overall.

Also competing was Tommy Bildheiser (Cedar Crest ’22), who finished 232nd in 33:25.5 as Davis & Elkins claimed 30th place.

L-R: Urena Batista, Hershey, Bildheiser, Wolfe (Photo Credit: Courtney Hershey)

NCAA Division III Championships

Down in Spartanburg, South Carolina, history was made for Lebanon Valley College as the men’s team qualified for the Division III National Championship Meet for the first time, earning an at-large bid after regionals. The Dutchmen placed 22nd out of 32 teams in the 8K race and were led by Rory Lieberman (Danville), who finished 97th in 25:17.2.

LVC’s lineup also included Joe Chukoskie (Northwestern Lehigh), placing 139th in 25:37.2; Andrew Namatka (East Pennsboro), 151st in 25:40.3; Lukas Walko (Mechanicsburg), 190th in 25:55.8; Wyatt Leitzel (Tri-Valley), 214th in 26:07.6; Eric Shelton (York Christian), 218th in 26:09.5; and Sam Rothstein (Donegal), 266th in 26:51.8.

On the women’s side, Coyla Bartholomew (Danville) competed in the 6K race and finished 219th with a time of 23:43.2.

Nike High School Northeast Regional Championship 

At Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, New York, Cedar Crest’s Travis Furmanski, the reigning Pennsylvania State Champion, continued his standout postseason run with a 9th-place finish at the Nike Northeast Regional Championship. His time of 15:52.1 puts him in the mix for a possible at-large bid to the Nike National Championship Meet, scheduled for December 6th in Portland, Oregon.

Furmanski’s showing adds to his growing résumé as a top Division I prospect. A DI decision would place him alongside recent Cedar Crest athletes who have moved on to Division I programs, including Kaddel Howard (University of Florida), Eliana Schneider (University of Virginia), Landen Weaber (Monmouth University), and Kaila Francis, who signed to continue her basketball career at Colgate University.