Heard Around the Track

November 4, 2001
 

Henderson, N. Penn are 2d in state meet
By Ira Josephs
INQUIRER SUBURBAN STAFF

HERSHEY, Pa. - West Chester Henderson's boys and North Penn's girls, two storied programs that weren't considered favorites in their own leagues two months ago, both finished second yesterday at the PIAA Class AAA state cross-country championships.

The Henderson boys, who had run behind 2000 state champion Coatesville the previous three years in the Ches-Mont League, scored 129 points on the White Field course. Cedar Cliff, of District 3, won the team title with 87 points, but District 1 placed third through sixth with Council Rock (181 points), Great Valley (208), Hatboro-Horsham (219) and Coatesville (220).

It's a return to the state's elite for the Warriors, who won the state title in 1996, were second in '97, and came in third in '95. "To have a whole new group validates the program and the talent level," Henderson coach Peter Morse said. "We were disappointed last year when we finished 10th at districts. We were aiming for a state championship. That's what we preach."

Henderson seem poised for another solid stretch. The Warriors' underclassmen-dominated pack included sophomore Ian Gottesfeld (fourth, 16 minutes, 27 seconds), junior Mike Merrick (45th, 17:16), senior Ian McCann (49th, 17:17), sophomore Greg Williams (50th, 17:18), sophomore Jim Alexander (64th, 17:27), senior Pat Lee (151st, 18:02), and senior Josh Brown (227th, 19:00).

A similar youth movement is afoot with the North Penn girls, who finished second to Council Rock in the Suburban One League Patriot Division before claiming the District 1 title last week. Although no member of the team placed in the top 25 and claimed an individual medal, only 32 seconds separated the five scorers. Allentown Central Catholic won the title with 143 points. The Maidens were second with 169. Pacing North Penn were freshman Cheryl Dingman (48th, 20:28), senior Lauren Marino (59th, 20:38), senior Lauren Kinsey (74th, 20:47), sophomore Jamie Taggart (86th, 20:54), sophomore Elizabeth Monachello (96th, 21:00), freshman Jessica Yoon (139th, 21:27), and senior Robyn Slocum (153d, 21:35). "The whole team packed together," North Penn coach Jim Crawford said. "I told them to go out and run for time and help each other. I was hoping we'd be in the top five."

Earning runner-up status the hardest possible way was Council Rock's Jess Cickay in the Class AAA individual girls' competition. The gutsy sophomore led by about 50 meters at the first mile and owned a 14-second lead at two miles. On a day when both the temperature (exceeded 70 degrees) and the hills took their toll on many runners, Cickay was passed at the finish line by North Allegheny's Stephanie Madia. Both runners were timed in 19:04. Cickay pushed so hard so early that she had to be taken to Hershey Medical Center and treated for heat exhaustion.

Council Rock senior Mike DiDio suffered a similar fate, collapsing in the final half mile. He was also taken to Hershey Medical Center with heat exhaustion.

Coatesville received third-place individual finishes in Class AAA from Rob Robertson in the boys' race and Kelly O'Connell in the girls'. In Class AA, Gwynedd-Mercy Academy finished third with 171 points behind Wyomissing, which grabbed its third straight crown with 72 points, and Quaker Valley with 118. Great Valley coach Paul Gring guided his girls' team to a seventh-place showing in addition to the fourth-place effort turned in by his boys.

 

Ira Josephs' e-mail address is ijosephs@phillynews.com.