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November 11, 2001
 
 

If these guys get their shirts tucked in before the race,

they could win it all in 2002.

One of the winningest programs in the state of Pennsylvania just can't seem to get any respect. They don't showboat. They don't predict. They don't trash talk. All they do is compete on an even footing (pun unintentional) with the state's best AAA XC teams. Since 1995, they have won the state championship once, finished 2nd twice, and finished 3rd once.

They aren't as neatly dressed (but who is?) as their league rivals Coatesville. They get virtually ignored all season. And then they show up at crunch time. Taking their league with a 28 point showing. Getting second at Districts. And then positioning themselves in case Cedar Cliff had even a slightly off day (they didn't - they ran their best races of the year), ultimately taking second in the AAA race.

So who are these guys from West Chester Henderson, and what's this about a shirt?

Well, according to assistant coach Jim Alexander, they started out the state race in their usual strategic position. Last. As he's watching the start, his unbelieving eyes catch sight of senior Ian McCann tucking in his shirt as he runs. Well, once McCann was presentable, all he did was have his highest finish on the team all year (3rd in 49th overall), behind sophomore Ian Gottesfeld (4th) and junior Mike Merrick (45th after almost passing out), and ahead of sophomore Greg Williams (50th) and sophomore Jim Alexander (64th). Their spread was just a minute, five seconds better than Cedar Cliff.

And if I am not mistaken, they look a lot like the Cedar Cliff team did last year. Young. And a runner-up. Plus they have great track times. Gottesfeld ran 4:38/10:01 as a frosh. Williams played soccer as a freshman after running sub 5:00 in 8th grade (His dad was a 1:51/4:17 athlete in the UK). And Alexander went 5:00/10:20 as a freshman. And four of the top five are back in 2002.

Now, if they could only get warmups for these guys, they could take another run at a the state title.

Nah. Doesn't fit their personality.