PennTrackXC - Features

September 30, 2001 - It's Not Paige Miller II. It's Erin Franklin I. Read about how last year's back-up is this year's star. Click Here.

September 30, 2001 - "I hadn't beaten him since 7th grade." Read about Tim O'Neil's breakthrough race. Click Here.

September 29, 2001 - Northern Invitational @ Hartwood Acres - Hosted by Fox Chapel HS at Hartwood Acres just north of Pittsburgh, the Northern Invitational attracted some of the best PA runners this, or any year. Both Mt. Lebanon teams took the win, with the girls' defeating Hampton 54-88, and the boys topping Shaler, 83-118. Defending AAA state champ Shawn Cavanaugh, Mt. Lebo, is returning to form, taking a talented Sam Bair of Shaler by six seconds with his 16:28. Hempfield's Lauren Bricker continued her winning ways, running 19:16 on the very hilly 5K course. Partial results.

September 29, 2001 - Red Flash Invitational @ St. Francis University - Baldwin senior Dan Mazzocco and Bishop Guilfoyle sophomore Sonja Hinish captured the individual titles and led their teams to second place finishes. Mazzocco established the high school 5k course record of 16:28.32 as he pulled away from Westmont Hilltop sophomore David Mock in the second half of the race. Hinish won a hard fought battle with Leanna Nastase of Forest Hills as the two finished in 20:12.24 and 20:16.69, respectively. Hinish's time also established a high school course record. Somerset captured the boys title by 22 over Baldwin, but the Baldwin girls captured the girls title by mere five points over Bishop Guilfoyle. Complete Results. Includes a photo from the girls' race.

September 29, 2001 - Bulldog Invitational @ Rose Tree Park - North Penn girls upset Harrier's Northeast #8 Cardlinal O'Hara at the Bulldog Invitational held at Rose Tree Park in Media. 53 girls teams and 48 boys teams compete in eight races, including four varsity contests, large and small schools, boys/girls. NP went 6-7-8-10-24 to outscore O'hara 55 to 69. Rising star Jessie Yester of Downingtown, in her first year of XC, ran 18:39 in the girls large school race, just four seconds slower than the small schools division winner, and another sensation of this season, Erin Franklin, of Wissahickon, who went 18:35. Wissahickon, minus their regular #3, finished second to Gov. Mifflin, 98-104. In the boys large school race, Pottsgrove's Corey Rogers ran the fastest time of the day, a 16:04 over the 3.1 mile course. Great Valley went 2-3-7-8-10 (17-18) to tally just 30 points, 87 fewer than second place Strath Haven. Emerging soph phenom Tim O'Neil of St. Joseph's Prep, battled O'Hara's Steve Hallinan over the final mile, pulling it out in a sprint with a 16:12. Salesianum (DE) went 7-9-13-14-30 for 73 points, seven b etter than O'Hara. Top 25 results and pix later. Top 25 Individuals & Top 6 teams now. Full results, hopefully, soon.

September 29, 2001 - Council Rock Invitational @ Tyler State Park - Is this the best sport, or what? On the same day in Tyler State Park, two Council Rock athletes excel. Jessica Cickay runs the nation's 4th fastest 5K of the season, while Mike Didio shows some incredible class. For some perspective on Cickay's time of 17:39, the defending District One Champion, Katie Ewart of Upper Dublin, was 58 seconds back in third place. Didio ran an US elite time of 15:40, getting second to Upper Moreland's Mark Mullelly, who went 15:31. But it was what Didio did during the heat of competition that makes his day the story of the race. As reported by PennTrackXC contributor John Bush, Mullelly was in the lead in a tight section in the woods as he approached a difficult area. He was about to take a wrong turn when he heard a yell from Didio from behind, sending him in the right direction. WAY TO GO DIDIO. Council Rock took both large school scored races. The George School and Hatboro-Horsham took the other two boys divisions, while Merion Mercy won the smaller school girls' division. Top finishers now on.

September 29, 2001 - Mercersburg Academy Invitational - Ben Stern, from Georgetown Day School, took the boys race in the Mercersburg Academy Invitational in 16:19 on a new course, eclipsing the old course mark by 10 seconds. Good Council HS went 2-3-4-8-11 to win with just 28 points. Host school student Maureen Glah was the girls champ in 19:53.8. National Cathedral School took the girls' championship with 75 points. Complete Results.

Late results from Big Red Invitational 9/8 with Andy Weilacher and Jesi Christensen winning. Click here.

September 25, 2001 - Council Rock's Jess Cickay ran a 17:06 at a hilly and slick course at Pennridge HS on Tuesday the 25th (2.9 miles),weather was rainy and colder by the hour. That's a 18:17 5K.

September 28, 2001 - So what are Dan Mazzocco's plans this year? Check this article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette in Heard Around the Track.

September 27, 2001 - A great story on Council Rock's Jessica Cickay in the Bucks County Courier Times. Get the link in Heard Around the Track.

September 25, 2001 - This report is from Pottsgrove Head Coach Bart Wasiolek, who expressed the sheer thrill of watching a great XC race between two good runners. And he should be thrilled, because the guy who won is his #1 guy. Click here.

Read how the Cedar Cliff HS website reported their boys' teams great performance at the Great American on September 22. Get the link in Heard Arouind the Track.

September 25, 2001 - In the just released October 1 issue of Harrier Magazine, two PA girls teams are now in the top 10 Northeast. As announced September 17, Council Rock is at #5. But the Top Ten is only available in the printed version, where nestled at #8 is the team that Rock only defeated by three points at the September 15 Briarwood Invitational - Cardinal O'Hara. Congratulations to both squads. Keep it up. Original September Announcement, click here. For Harrier Magazine, click here.

September 22, 2001 - Slippery Rock Invitational - Mount Lebanon's boys took another invitational, and defending AAA State Champ Shawn Cavanaugh is getting closer to his main challenger in the west, Dan Mazzocco of Baldwin. Mazzocco was 51 seconds up on Cavanaugh two weeks ago, but only 20 seconds ahead as Mazzocco took the Slippery Rock Invitational in 16:14. Hampton was second, 39 points back of Mt. Lebo in the team competition. In the AAA girls' race, Lauren Bricker of Hempfield, is returning to top form, winning by 17 seconds over Peters Township lead runner, Jessica Perry, in 19:05. Hempfield took the girls AAA title by a slim two points over Hampton. In AA action, Quaker Valley took both the boys and girls races, the former by 33 over Grove City, and the girls, by 14 over Titusville. But Grove City's Paul Mastarone won the individual title, running 16:53. Quaker City's Maxine Markfield easily won the girls individual title with her 20:07 showing. Complete results.

September 22, 2001 - Chris Fretz Invitational @ Perkiomen Valley - Joanna Marlow and Ashley Ippolito, the one-two combination from New Hope-Solebury, did exactly that at the Chris Fretz Invitational. But Spring-Ford took five of the next eight spots to win with 34 points. Perkiomen Valley's Will Hollister took the boys race in 17:14. Partial results.

September 22, 2001 - Conrad Weiser Invitational - State contender North Penn's girls took five of the top 10 spots (2-3-5-6-10) to easily claim the team victory in the Conrad Weiser Invitational in Robesonia. But second place team #1, Kelly O'Connell of Coatesville, took the individual crown in 20:08.30, outdistancing North Penn's Lauren Marino. The Coatesville boys captured first place, led by Rob Robertson in a time of 17:14. Coatesville had four runners in the top 10. Adam Breisch, Quakertown was second in 17:47. Partial results.

September 22, 2001 - Chestnut Hill Invitational - Plymouth Whitemarsh's Andrew Prinzivalli won by 12 seconds in 16:32 at the fourth annual Chestnut Hill Academy Invitational, but Valley Forge easily took the team win with 25 points by going 3-4-5-6-7. Partial results.

September 22, 2001 - PA Schools perform well at Great American in NC, and Bull Run in MD. At Great American, Cedar Cliff boys get 10th (32, 33, 40, 67, 108) in Championship race. At Bull Run, Ryan Blood, East Pennsboro, runs fastest time of day to take the Elite heat in 16:14. Trinity boys get 20th. Red Land boys take Medium schools race, with Chris Robson 2nd in 17:14. Red Land girls take 16th. In Small schools, Maureen Glah, Mercersburg Academy, win in 20:42. Mercersburg boys take 13th. Great American results here. Bull Run results here. Read how the Cedar Cliff HS website reported their boys' teams great performance at the Great American on September 22. Click Here.

September 22, 2001 - Carlisle Invitational - 1999 AAA state champ, and 2001 runner-up North Allegheny, came east to face the defending AA state champ Wyomissing girls, and came out with a narrow win (145-152), despite a lower-than-expected finish from senior Stephanie Madia. The race was won comfortably by Footlocker alternate Angie Saterstad of Hershey in 18:19.70. Wyomissing's Debbie Huss was second in 19:03.50. North Allegheny soph Amy Ruffalo was the top finisher for the winning team, getting third over Debbie's twin, Amy, by five seconds in 19:04.90. Stephanie Madia was 8th in 19:31.20. On the boys side, Cumberland Valley took the title over second place Altoona by 50. Liberty's Dorian McDonald turned the tables on Emmaus' Joel Thomas from last week's Bulldog Invitational at Northern Lehigh, taking the win with a 16:00.80 by 12 seconds. Complete Results.

September 22, 2001 - NorthEast Invitational @ Bloomsburg Univeristy of PA - At Bloomsburg today, Christopher Spooner, a sophomore from Lewisburg, wins in 16:44 on the fairly hilly District 4 Championship course. Chris Cummings from Mansfield is 2nd, 16:55, and Tyler Spencer, Towanda, is 3rd in 16:56. Shikellamy took the team title with 116 points, Pottsville 2nd w/ 169, and Williamsport 3rd w/ 187. For the girls, newcomer Tricia Learn from Mansfield won in 19:49, followed by Jackie Adamshick of Allentown Central Catholic in 20:02, and in 3rd, Tricia's older sister Charity Learn in 20:10. Allentown Central Catholic, last fall's 3rd place AAA team at states, dominated, winning with 48 points, almost 100 points ahead of 2nd place Williamsport, who had 146. 3rd went to Northeast Bradford with 168. Partial Results.

A late posting of a meet - The Bulldog Invitational at Northern Lehigh, 9/15, with three Dyestat Elite performances. Highlights and Results.

September 20, 2001 - Click Here for a list of participating schools AND A PREVIEW of the upcoming Red Flash Invitational, September 29 @ St. Francis University

September 17, 2001 - Harrier Magazine has moved the Council Rock girls' team into the #5 spot in the North East US National Rankings released today. Complete rankings on Dyestat or The Harrier. The move follows their win in the Championship race at Saturday's Briarwood Invitational at Belmont Plateau. It was Council Rock's third consecutive team win, and the third for #1 soph star Jessica Cickay as well. She took the Cliff Robbins Memorial Sept 1 in 18:22, then ran the second fastest 5K in the US the following week at the CB East Invitational, a 17:50. Her 18:26 at Belmont was a course record. Rock beat North Penn on Sept 8 by just two points, and at Briarwood, they took Cardinal O'Hara by just three points, and North Penn by 19. With close calls like that, it looks like PA has a lot of national caliber girls' teams. Rock also won the Robbins Inv.with 76 points.

September 15, 2001 - Bulldog Invitational @ Northern Lehigh - Joel Thomas led his Emmaus team to an 84-160 win over Liberty, setting a new meet course record of 15:51.4 in the process. Liberty's Dorian McDonald was second in 15:53. Liberty's girls team took top honors by just five points over Allentown Central Catholic, as Liberty #1 runner, another emergying frosh star, Erin Matyus, took first with an 18:55.5. Allentown Central Catholic's Jack Adamshick was second, 20 seconds back. Partial Results.

September 15, 2001 - Upper Dublin Coed Invitational - Katie Ewart took her home Invitational in 18:03, more than a minute ahead of second place; while Quakertown's Adam Breisch was joined in the under 16:00 club by Upper Dublin's Matt Lawson, going 15:42 and 15:57 respectively. Upper Dublin's Tom Rhodes was third in 16:05. But in the unique format where team scores are combined, CB West boys & girls took the invitational title with 116 points. Pennsbury was second with 138, and host Upper Dublin, third with 148 points. Results.

September 15, 2001 - Wellsboro Cross Country Invitational - Sisters Charity and Tricia Learn (SR & FR respectively) took first and second at the Wellsboro Invitational, but their team finished third behind Northeast Bradford and Lewisburg. Their times of 18:52 and 18:53 bested the third place runner by almost a minute. In the boys race, Wellsboro fared better, taking first over Northeast Bradford (by two points), and Jersey Shore. Wellsboro was led by a second place finish by Jason Ives. Lewisburg's Chris Spooner was first in 16:10. Partial Results.

September 15, 2001 - Conneaut Lake Invitational - In the boys race, two Fairview runners brok the course record, but General McLane (3-6-11-12-32) took the team title by five points over Fairview, 64-69. Chris Schauerman ran 16:06, leading teammate Stephen Hrinda by seven seconds. General McLane's Hayden Harrison was third in 16:22, with Riverside's Brian Godson fourth in 16:34. In the girls race, Maris Reutzel, Meadville, set a new course record of 19:10. Cranberry's Jamie Compagna was second in 19:15. McDowell, let by the third place finish of Stephanie Strub in 19:19 (tying the old course record), took the team title with 51 points, 12 better than Titusville. Full Results.

Council Rock showed where their thoughts were today, as they proudly displayed the flag at the Briarwood Invitational.

September 15, 2001 - Briarwood Invitational - Only four girls had every broken 19:00 at Philly's Belmont Plateau before today. And what a day for a record. Only 96 hours after one of the darkest days in the history of our country, there were signs of hope. Athletes who gave their all. Parents who gave their support. Coaches who gave their knowledge and inspiration. Volunteers who gave their time. And one incredible course record. Highlights: Council Rock takes both Championship races. Great Valley takes both Division Two races. Hatboro-Horsham girls and Father Judge boys take Division One races.

Council Rock's Jessica Cickay took a step toward national elite today with a new course record at Belmont Plateau.

Girls' Championship Race: Sophomore Jessica Cickay, who runs for a school with a remarkable running tradition, ran the first sub-18:30 5K at Belmont Plateau during the annual Briarwood Invitational. Her time of 18:26.21 surpassed the likes of Donna Fidler, the Norristown star who was the first sub-19:00 at 18:56. And St. Hubert's star Jackie Kelly, who went 18:51 at last year's Ryan Invitational. And the runs of Footlocker Finalists Sheila Klick, Prendie (now at LaSalle), and Julia Pudlin, Baldwin School (returning from injury for her sr. year). Pudlin set the record last year at this meet with a 18:31.7. Cickay has already run 17:50 this year. It is just a beginning. Council Rock girls have to be considered a strong contender for State Champs, and maybe even national ranking, after their win. But what a team Cardinal O'Hara has assembled. Only three points back. It's a shame these two can't meet again in November.

Boys' Championship Race: Council Rock took a good Jersey program, Hunterdon Central, by 24 points. Their top duo of Mike DiDio and Rob Hampson, ran the entire race with Hunterdon #1 Jon Fox, until an all-out sprint at the end, when DiDio and Hampson went 1-2 in 16:11 and 16:13.

Girls' Division One Race (Large Schools) - Janine Ricci, a talented Hatboro-Horsham middle distance, as well as XC runner, held off Henderson's Marissa Murtaugh after the two exited the woods side by side. Ricci won in 20:23, leading her team to the title with just 44 points, over second place Henderson, with 51.

Boys' Division One Race (Large Schools) - Middle distance star Steve Craig showed he has some distance kick, touring the difficult Belmont Plateau course in the fifth fastest time of the day, and taking the Division One race by .18 over Justin Woodruff of West Chester East. His team didn't fare as well, getting fifth behind Father Judge, 67, Abington, 106, Central, 109, and a rebuilding Haverford (minus their #3), with 114.

Girls' Division Two Race (Small Schools) - Great Valley looks incredible this year with their top four going 5-6-7-8, beating Gwynedd-Mercy by 16 points in the Small Schools race. Gwynedd-Mercy's Meghan Bishop took top honors with a nice 20:14.

Boys' Division Two Race (Small Schools) - Great Valley boys took the Small Schools race with just 44 points, to hold off Mainland Regional (NJ) by a single point. The Patriot's Bill Patchak won the race for the Malvern school by taking Mainland's Brian Gerten by five seconds with his 16:48.

NOTE: MY CAMERA BROKE BEFORE THE BOY'S RACES. I HAD A PHOTO OF CICKAY CROSSING THE LINE, AND HER BIG SMILE AFTER THE RACE, BUT THERE WILL BE MORE OPPORTUNITIES.

BUT THE PHOTOS OF AMERICANS EXPRESSING THEIR LOVE FOR THEIR COUNTRY WERE FAR MORE IMPORTANT TO ME PERSONALLY. IT WAS AN UPLIFTING DAY. A DAY THAT STARTED TO RENEW MY OWN SPIRIT. THE SPIRIT THAT OUR KIDS GIVE TO ALL OF US AS THEY REACH FOR THE STARS.

A late posting of a meet where Jess Cickay won her first invitaitonal of the season. See Cliff Robbins Memorial Invitational with September 1 meets below.

September 12, 2001 - The Mid Atlantic Junior Olympics XC Championships scheduled for Sat. Nov. 3 at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia, have been moved to Sat. Nov. 10, also at Belmont Plateau. Information is available at http://www.usatf.org/assoc/mid-atlantic/pdf/2001JOXC.pdf

September 12, 2001 - Good news for PA Cross Country. Baldwin School senior Julia Pudlin resumed the running aspect of her training Monday. More in Heard Around the Track.

September 10, 2001 - Article # 3 in our series on training is now online, entitled: "What is Cryotherapy?" Read about the series and catch up on the first two articles here.

September 8, 2001 - Big Red Invitational @ West Middlesex HS - Andy Weilacher continued his hot start with an easy win in the Big Red Invitational at West Middlesex HS, to lead his Eisenhower team to a one point win over the host school. In the girls race, Jesi Christensen, Greenville, took the girls race in 18:48. Heather Wilmouth, who finished second in 19:05, led her Eisenhower team to a second place finish behind team champ Titusville. Partial Results.

September 8, 2001 - California University of PA Invitational - Dan Mazzocco, Baldwin, debuts with a 16:16 for a 12 second win over Altoona JR Bob Boston. Defending AAA state champ Shawn Cavanaugh is 4th in 17:07, but his Mount Lebanon team looks good, scoring just 83 points to defeat Altoona by 46. Hempfield JR Lauren Bricker wins the meet for the second year in a row over North Allegheny's Stephanie Madia (19:08-19:37), but Madia's North Allegheny team looks good with a 26 point win over Greensburg Salem. Mt. Lebanon's Lauren Wood, a sophomore, also runs a 19:37. Full Results.

September 8, 2001 - Gettysburg HS Invitational - At the Gettysburg Invitational, Hershey's Angie Saterstad takes an easy win, running an 18:48.4 to win by over a minute. The Cedar Cliff boys and girls teams took both titles. The girls with 69 points, but the boys, the favorite to win this year's state AAA title, with an impressive 27 points (2-3-4-8-10-15-16), with a spread between one and five of just 42 seconds, and the entire top seven within 1:08. Patrick Philbin was the top Colt, getting second overall in 16:32, 15 seconds behind defending District 3 champ Ryan Blood of East Pennsboro. Both Blood and Philbin are juniors. Full Results.

September 8, 2001 - Bear Mountain XC River Run @ Lock Haven University - Chris Spooner, Lewisburg, leads his team to victory and sets a new course record with a 16:18. Brittany Dechert, a FR from Northern Lebanon, also set a course record with her 20:28. Lewisburg took the team title with 41 points. Full Results.

A new star on the PA XC horizon. Katie Stepp. She's a frosh. A transfer from a Ohio. And she runs for the defending state champs, Parkland. (photo: Craig Lowthert)

September 8, 2001 - Centaur Invitational @ Desales University - Katie Stepp, a freshman transfer from Ohio, has burst onto the PA XC scene with a bang, taking her first high school invitational against teammate and defending District 11 champ Paula Gigurie, and several other state medallists. That makes the road easier for the defending state champions. But does it? They were defeated in this race by Easton 73-79 which placed five runners in the top twenty. Stepp outkicked Red Lion's Kate Papenberg to win by just three seconds with a 19:24 on the tough course. In the boys race, Council Rock showed early season strength that everyone feared they had, beating a strong Hatboro-Horsham team 49-97. Mike DiDio won the race in 16:17. Partial Results.

September 8, 2001 - Lebanon Valley Invitational - Cumberland Valley took both the boys and girls championships at the Lebanon Valley Invitational at Memorial Lake State Park in Fort Indiantown Gap. CV's 73 points was 18 ahead of AA power Scranton Prep. St. Joseph's Prep and Woodbridge HS (VA) both had 109 points, with St. Joe's getting the call on 6th man. Woodbridge's Mike Lyng took top honors in 16:36.89, followed closely by CV's Mark Turner less than six seconds back. The Cumberland Valley girls posted just 68 points and easily outdistanced Woodbridge HS (VA) by placing five in the top 30. Western Wayne sophomore Meaghan Robbins took first with a 20:05, 14 seconds better than West Allegheny's Christine Taranto. Complete Results.

September 8, 2001 - Twin Valley Relays (4 x two miles) in Morgantown - Cardinal O'Hara defeats defending champ Solanco, setting a course record, despite wrong turns by two of its relay members. Steve Hallinan-10:37 (2nd fastest split in course history), TJ Coll-11:15 (wrong turn), Joe Francisco-10:37.5 (fastest split in course history), Vince Gravelle- 11:16 (also made wrong turn).

September 8, 2001 - Mill Street Run, Bristol - Pennsbury boys Neshaminy girls took their respective Division I (large schools) titles, while the Division 2 (small schools) was won by Holy Ghost boys and Villa Joseph Marie girls. The fastest boys time of the day was turned in in the Divisioin 2 race, as Sean Doyle, Lansdale Catholic, ran 15:29, four seconds ahead of Holy Ghost's Bill Ference. Buddy Davis, Council Rock, took the DI race in 16:02. Julie Malloy, Neshaminy, won the girls race in 18:39, five seconds up on Pennsbury's Casey Carey. Annie Devinney, Lower Moreland, won the D2 race in 19:08. Partial Results.

September 8, 2001 - Central Bucks East Invitational - The two fastest 5K's in the state so far: Council Rock's Jessic Cickay ran the fastest 5K of the young season, and in the process, broke the two-year old course record of Pennridge star Renee Gunning by 36 seconds, the new standard now 17:50. Her team also won, taking North Penn by two points, 50 to 52. Also going sub-19 were Jessica Yester, Downingtown, 18:38, and Bal Myers, CB East, 18:46. In the boys race, host CB East took the team title with 77 points, with Upper Moreland second with 98. Upper Moreland's Mark Mullelly ran the fastest boys 5K in the state, a 15:31, to take individual honors. Partial Results.

September 8, 2001 - Abington Invitational - In the girls race, Erin Franklin, Wissahickon, breaks former teammate Paige Miller's Abington course record, leading her team to their second invitational win in the first two weeks of the season with 44 points, 27 ahead of second place Governor Mifflin and 53 ahead of Haverford. Franklin's time of 18:34 was 19 seconds ahead of Coatesville's Kelly O'Connell. Coatesville's boys defeated annual power Paul VI from NY, led by Rob Robertsons second place 16:02 and Justin Robertson's 6th place 16:45. Perkionmen Valley's Will Hollister, a 2000 state XC medallist, took top honors with a 15:57 on the 3.1 mile course, breaking Robertson's 2000 course record. Complete Results.

September 8, 2001 - Kutztown Invitational - Pottsgrove's Corey Rogers picked up where he ended his last XC season, in front. He took Saturday's Kutztown Invitational in 16:51 by five seconds over Conrad Weiser's Chris Muldoon. Chambersburg took the boys title over a strong AA team from Wyomissing by 31 points. Ephrata was third, and Strath Haven, fourth. In the girls' race, Springfield Delco's Stefanie Thomas beat the Huss twins of Wyomissing with her 19:27. Juniors Debbie and Amy were second and third, two and six seconds back, respectively. Last year's District 3 champion and state medalist, soph Kylee Schuler of Chambersburg, was fourth in 19:47. Chambersburg girls took the team title by just two points over Wyomissing. Cardinal O'Hara, led by Katie Irwin's fifth place finish in 19:54, placed third, 20 points behind Wyomissing. Results in JPG format

September 8, 2001 - Lions Invitational - On a tough new course @ Springton Lake Middle School, Penncrest's Rob Craft and Kim Baxter won the inaurural Lions Invatational in 17:54 and 22.:13, respectively. Penncrest took the boys teams title, whilc Chester took the girls. Partial Results.

September 1, 2001 - Big Valley Invitational - The defending state AAA champion Coatesville boys easily dominated the Big Valley Invitational at Indian Valley Middle School near State College, taking second place Altoona by 101 points with returning state medalist Rob Robertson capturning first in 16:19. Altoona's Bob Boston was second, five seconds back. Coatesville also took top individual and team honors in the girls race, with Kelly O'Connell taking first in 19:21, and her team 19 points ahead of second place Bishop Guilfoyle. Results.

September 4, 2001 - See the team previews for recent comments from the message board. Then make your own comments. Some valid stuff here.

September 3, 2001 - Dyestat publishes their list of pre-season Footlocker favorites, and Julia Pudlin (The Baldwin School), Angela Saterstad (Hershey HS), Stacey Muchel (Valley View), and Katie Ewart (Upper Dublin), are on the girls' list. See the complete list on Dyestat. And in The Harrier's Pre-Season Top 50, Mt. Lebanon's Shawn Cavanaugh makes the list, along with Pudlin and Saterstad.

September 1, 2001 - Cliff Robbins Memorial Invitational - (@Kirby Park, Wilkes-Barre) The top two times of the early season belong to a young Council Rock runner, Jess Cickay. Her first invitational win was at this meet, the Cliff Robbins Memorial Invitational, with an 18:22, a full 35 seconds ahead of a quality runner, Stacey Muchel of Valley View. Liberty's Dorian McDonald took the boys' race in 16:09. Results.

September 1, 2001 - Purple & White Invitational at Shamokin HS - Tamaqua took both boys and girls varsity races, with the boys squeaking by Blue Mountain by two points, and the girls placing five in the top nine to win by 50. Pottsville's Shane Clauser took the boys race in 16:54, by four seconds over Tamaqua's Nick Birosik. Tamaqua's Elizabeth Manness and Mary Lichtenberger went one-two in 21:53 and 21:57, respectively. See results courtesy of Shamokin Assistant Coach Michael Rogers.

September 1, 2001 - McDowell Invitational - Defending state AA champ Andy Weilacher of Eisenhower, a senior, took the McDowell Invitational in Erie on Saturday with a fast early season time of 15:42 5K on a sunny, pleasant morning with temps in the 60's. And this year, his Eisenhower team is with him, as they took the team title by 31 points over Warren. Their top three runners bunched in the top ten. On the girls side, host McDowell easily took Butler by 63 points. Heather Wilmoth and Rachel Tutmaher, both of Eisenhower, went one-two in 19:24 and 20:22. McDowell went 3-5-7-11-14 for the win with 40 points. Team and top individual results courtesy of Dennis Muller.

September 1, 2001 - Fairview Invitational - The Fairview Invitational showcases new talent in faster finishes than last year. Allderice senior Ian Wolfson, who was 33rd at 2000 XC States, took the title in 16:51, but West Middlesex #1 Brad Ruffo's West Middlesex team took the team title over Allderice 36 to 64. Ruffo was second in 17:02. In the girls race, Corry's Leslie Gentile led her team to the win by taking the top spot in 21:00. Youngsville was second, one point back. Fairview's Aryn Gruneisen was second 13 seconds back. Full results, including JV races, thanks to Fairview coach Dennis Muller.

August 31, 2001 - Viking Invitational - The Viking Invitational sees Mullelly and Franklin emerge from the pack to set the stage for an exciting season. O'Hara boys and Wissahickon girls look strong. See top three teams and top 12 individual results courtesy of Mike McMillen.

The start of Friday, 8/31 Viking Invitational. (Photo by Mike McMillen). One additional photo now on.

August 30, 2001 - Sheila Klick transfers to LaSalle. Get the story in Heard Around the Track.

August 29, 2001 - From Dyestat, Jeremy Silverman of Annville PA, US#4 in shot put in 2001, is switching from Virginia Tech to UCLA. He was released from his letter of intent at Virginia Tech because of a coaching change.

August 29, 2001 - Results from the Hershey Invitational, sponsored by Hershey High School Tuesday evening, are difficult to find. A posting on the PennTrackXC message board indicates that the guy's junior-senior race was won by East Pennsboro junior Ryan Blood in a course record 16:24. Second - Fourth were: Mark Turner (Cumberland Valley), Kyle Snyder (CD East), Will Springman (Cumberland Valley), Pat Clark (Cedar Crest). Girls race cut short because of thunderstorm, with Angie Saterstad, Hershey, ahead after an opening 5:45 mile. We are trying to get more complete results, and will keep you informed. In the meantime, check out the XC preview, with AAA Girls and Boys, plus PCL now on.

August 27, 2001 - PA State Cross Country Preview runs all week, beginning Monday evening with the PIAA AAA Boys and PCL Individual outlook.

The season is finally here. The base is built. The hills lay in waiting. And the team has great ambition. There really is no other sport quite like it. XC has arrived. (PHOTO @ 1999 Mid-East Regional Course in Kettering, Ohio, by Don Rich).

August 25, 2001 - See the latest PA Cross Country Schedule (with major regional meets soon to be added) on our Current Schedule page. Plus, look early next week for the preview of the season, to be posted Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

August 24, 2001 - Article # 2 in our series on training is now online, entitled: "PAIN: It's all in your head!. Read about the series and catch up on the first article here.

2001 XC Meet Detail

September Meets Above

October Meets

November Meets

2001 Meet Listings

CANCELLED 9/15:

THE SPIKED SHOE INVITATIONAL AT PENN STATE UNIVERSITY