Now on, results for Allegheny Classic, Altoona, Behrend-Penn State, Briarwood, Bull Dog-Big Spring, Bulldog-Northern Lehigh, Bull Run MD, California PA, Chestnut Hill, Chris Fretz, Slippery Rock. STILL NEED: Big Red NY, Boardman OH, Conneaut Lake, Red Flash
Greg Thomas' 15:57 is the 2nd fastest PCL time for the course
behind only former teammate Steve Hallinan.
Cardinal O'hara's boys and girls teams sweep the Championship flights at the Briarwood Invitational on a overcast, hot and very muggy day. Greg Thomas led the Lions with the 2nd fastest Philadelphia Catholic League time ever on the course, a 15:57. His effort set the stage for a 82-129 upset of NTN Northeast US#9 Ridgewood, New Jersey, who lost their 5th runner to heat. The Ridgewood harrier was transported to the hospital. In the girls' race, the sister act of Beth and Katie Kelly did an encore, with Beth winning in 19:32, and Katie a second back. O'Hara tallied 57 points, 18 better than Padua. The Female Athlete of the Meet came from the Division 1 race, as Conestoga's Liz Costello roared to a very quick 19:09 for the conditions.
Allentown Central Catholic continued their winning, taking their second consecutive invitational after the bump in the road of Week #1. Exeter won a ten-point battle over Emmaus in the boys' race as Tamaqua's Isaac Dunkelberger took home individual honors.
NE#8 West Chester East, minus #3 man Andrew Lobb, logged 33-54 win over a strong Owen J. Roberts team. Team leader Duriel Hardy went 16:37 for the win, and East placed three in the top five. East's Alycia Woodruff, a week after a 2nd place finish, took home the top prize with a four 2nd win over Perkiomen Valley's Khrystina Bauman, running 20:04. But Perkiomen Valley, with two in the top six, tallied just 37 points for a 51-point margin of victory.
Conestoga's Liz Costello had the fastest time of the day
at Briarwood, a 19:09.
At the first high school invite at the Cooper's Lake course near Slippery Rock, North Allegheny swept the AAA races, but it was the AA individuals who had the day's best times.
Two new course records were set in the varsity races, as Central Cambria swept the team races, but Central Cambria only got one of the records as Altoona held captured the other.
The Baldwin boys were team winners by 7 over Norwin behind one- two individual finishes... and the Norwin girls returned the favor.
The Strath Haven girls took a trip to the brutal Hereford MD HS course to run the Bull Run Invitational, and came away with a 5th place finish in the Elite race.In the Small School Races, the Kennard Dale boys went one-two-three to seal a 2nd place for the team. In the girls Small Schools Race, Kari Blood of East Pennsboro finished 8th.
Chardon Ohio invaded Meadville, and took away two team titles, but Franklin Regional's Justine Jeroski took an individual championship.
Diane Filtz, Penn-Trafford, wins the AAA race at Slippery Rock
(photo by Karen Ward)
Big Spring sent one-two, but without five to score, had to settle for individual bragging rights at their home invitational, as James Buchanan girls and Mechanicsburg boys win team titles.
Roman Catholic is (not so) quietly making a name for themselves. Winning has a way of getting out, and that is exactly what they did at the Chestnut Hill Invitational with a 35-59 win over 2nd place Phil-Mont Christian. Springfield Montco was 3rd with 62 points behind the win by Matlack Gillin in 15:52 on the 3-mile course. Roman placed three in the top six behind the 3rd place finish of Tom Dolan in 17:09.
In a smaller invite, you can expect close scores, and that is exactly what happened as Seneca squeaked out a two-point win over Corry in the girls' race. Harbor Creek freshman Lauren Zarger won. In the boys race, the margin was a lot wider, as Harbor Creek defeated Corry.
Ben Hahn, Smethport, posted the fastest time of the day in leading his team to a 2nd place finish in Division II, while Sarah Lonzi, Bradford, also ran the fastest time of the day, an 18:57, as her Bradford team finished 3rd in Division II. Her teammate, Steve Kirkland, was 4th in the Division I race.
Justin Jeroski, Franklin Regional, holding off Ohio runner. (Photo by Carl Strub)
9/17 Weekend Preview: Another Saturday, and another round of great meets in PA: This weekend, it'll be the Briarwood Invitational at the Belmont Plateau course in Philly. In the championship boys' race, it'll be a good matchup between NE#9 Ridgewood NJ and some strong PA squads, including the PCL's LaSalle HS. And at the Slippery Rock Invitational, a new course will be used at Cooper's Lake because of construction on the campus. WIll there be more upsets and record runs? Follow along this weekend and next week to find out...