Current Features

 

2001 PA Cross Country Season Preview

PIAA AA Boys Individual Outlook
 

Defending state AA XC champ Andy Weilacher, Eisenhower, pulled away at two miles in 2000. 

Eisenhower's Andy Weilacher was 10th as a freshman, 2nd as a sophomore, and absolutely dominated the 2000 AA PIAA State Championship XC race as a junior, winning in 16:25. Unchallenged in his race, he would have been 4th in the AAA race. The 2001 season is his to take. In the Spring, he was tripped during the 3200 at States, finishing 10th in 9:48.43. He will remove himself from the pack in cross.

District 3 Champ Ryan Blood could give Weilacher all he can handle, and more. 

The next four places in AA boys were seniors, but the 6th place finisher hales from a running legacy (his father, Rick Blood, was a dominant PA distance runner). Ryan Blood took the AA District 3 championship as a sophomore on this year's state course in an excellent time of 16:48 (wait till you see the course. It's nasty). Blood is mentally tough, always competitive, and now experienced. If anyone can catch Weilacher, it's Blood. Unoffically, he took the junior-senior race at Hershey HS on Tuesday, 8/29. 

Other returning medalists include Scranton Prep junior Jonathan Pastore, who was 8th in 2000; senior Bryan Herdman, Blairsville, 10th; senior Tyler Spencer, Towanda, 12th in XC, 2nd in the 3200 in 9:30.27; senior Ben Weaver, North Clarion, 15th in XC, 8th in the 3200; senior Jon Gratton, Quaker Valley, 16th; junior Steve Gonzalez, Westmont Hillmont, 17th; senior Aaron Miller, Union City, 20th in XC; junior Aaron Benson, Kiane Area, 23rds; and soph (the AA's top freshman) Dave Mock, from Westmont Hilltop, 24th in 2000.