Scott Huff highlights the teams and individuals that will be competing in Saturday’s PIAA Cross Country meet at Hershey.
By Scott Huff
The Council Rock North boys cross-country program is the definition of elite when it comes to success in the entire state of Pennsylvania.
Head coach Dave Marrington began as an assistant coach to Bill Preston back in 1989 and became the head coach in 1996. And in those 23 years Council Rock – which split in 2002 into North and South - missed out on going to states as a team just once – 2005. Only five teams from District One move on to the state championship meet.
“In 2005 we finished sixth in the district,” remembered Marrington. “And those five teams finished one through five in states, and we would have finished right behind them.
“I learned a lot coaching under Bill Preston,” added Marrington. “I just want to continue that legacy.”
The next chapter of that legacy will be written this week as the Indians take a strong contingent to Hershey to compete at the state level. Rock North finished second to West Chester Henderson in the District One Championships held at Lehigh University and will take its seven-member team to compete for a state title.
“I was extremely pleased with the results at districts,” said Marrington. “We had 31 runners compete – and all of them turned in their season best times. The course at Lehigh is very fast, but I was still very happy with the way we competed.”
Junior Ross Wilson finished second as he stopped the watches in 15:19; senior Mac Emery finished eighth with a time of 15:40; senior James Zingarini finished 15th in 15:53; sophomore Brian Arita took 48th place with a time of 16:26; sophomore Sean Griswold finished 60th and stopped the watches in 16:37; senior Doug Benton finished 93rd with a time of 16:56; and Zack Keller finished 117th in 17:04.
“Ross Wilson has emerged as one of our best runners at the end of the season,” said Marrington. “Ross is a steady runner that never shows panic during a race. He understands pace, and he knows when to push and then pull back.
“We preach to our runners about oxygen debt,” added Marrington. “He knows what oxygen debt feels like, and he can handle his body.
“Ross thrives on the big races,” continued Marrington. “If the race was a mile long, he wouldn’t be close to the front of the pack. But in a 5k race he can be tough.”
“The longer the race, the better I do,” agreed Wilson. “At Lehigh I was hoping to get into the top five, so finishing second was great. The course there is pretty flat, and I really love to run the hills.
“At Hershey there are a lot more hills, and I will try to stay in the front pack for the first mile and see how it pans out,” added Wilson. “Both Mac (Emery) and James (Zingarini) and I have trained very hard this year, and we really push each other to be the best we can be. I think it is possible for all three of us to be in the top 20 at states.”
Emery has been the cornerstone of the team for most of the season.
“Mac has been battling a chest cold and hasn’t run as well as he can run the last few events,” said Marrington in reference to the conference and district championships. “I think that everyone would agree that Mac would beat Ross if he was healthy, but you would expect them to be very close. Not to put pressure on them, but I would expect Ross and Mac to be in the top 10 at states.”
“I feel a little better, and I will just have to wait to see how I feel on Saturday,” said Emery who will most likely attend Dartmouth College next fall. “It is hard to predict what is going to happen at states because it is a very unpredictable course. I would hope that Ross, James, and I would be near the top.
“I feel that it is awesome to have our team at states again,” added Emery. “We have some of the best coaches in the area, and everyone works hard to prepare to be the best.”
Marrington is thrilled for the experience that states will provide for his pair of sophomores – Arita and Griswold – and his pair of seniors – Benton and Keller.
“Both Brian and Sean have really come on at the end of the year,” said Marrington. “And it is a great way for both Doug and Zack to end their careers.
“One of our goals was to be in a position to get to states as a team, and get a chance for individuals to medal in the top 25,” said Marrington. “Now we have that chance.”
Just like 22 of the last 23 Marrington coached teams.
Lady Bucks / Falcons / Maidens Race to States
The secret is out – the Central Bucks West girls cross-country team is going to states.
“This is a really good feeling,” said Central Bucks West head coach Kiki Bell as West returns to states for the first time since 2005. “Everyone knew about how good Unionville and Pennsbury were, and now we validated how good we were at districts. And we did this very much as a team.
“Our runners are pretty much interchangeable at the top,” added Bell as the Lady Bucks finished third at districts with 135 points. “I think that is wonderful, but some people might disagree. We run as a team, we train hard together, and we all wear the same uniform. This is a real team.”
Freshman Emory Griffin was the top finisher at the District One Championships for the Lady Bucks at Lehigh University with a 13th place finish and a time of 18:24. Freshman Maddie Villalba finished 20th (18:34); junior Megan Iatarola finished 28th (18:57); senior Gretchen Krause finished 36th (19:04); sophomore Lindsey Gerlach finished 38th (19:06); and sophomore Shelby Bingaman finished 65th (19:44). Senior Keelan McDonald will be the seventh runner for the Lady Bucks at states.
“It is awesome to take a whole group of runners to states instead of just a few individuals,” said Bell. “Gretchen being the senior has been an extension of me in terms of what I want to do with the team. And the freshman and sophomores have stepped up and really improved.
“We go into states with all of the girls running their personal best times,” added Bell. “These are exciting times for everyone.”
Pennsbury will also compete as a team at statesas the Falcons (69 points) finished second behind district champion Unionville (54 points).
Freshman Olivia Sargent finished 7th with a clocking of 18:09; senior Sara Sargent finished 11th (18:21); freshman Maddie Sauer finshed 14th (18:26); freshman Hannah Molloy finished 18th (18:28); junior Erica Gray finished 19th (18:34); senior Elizabeth Wedekind finished 23rd (18:44); and sophomore Erin O’Connell finished 37th (19:05).
Between both the Lady Bucks and the Falcons, there were four freshman that finished in the top five for their respective schools. Griffin and Villalba for CB West – and – Olivia Sargent, Sauer, and Molloy for Pennsbury.
“Freshman females always seem to be able to compete in this sport,” said Bell. “There is something good about being both young and naïve. It’s all good.”
North Penn will also compete as a team at states as the Maidens (186 points) finished fourth at the District One Championships.
Sophomore Ali Valenti was the top finisher for the Maidens with a 24th place finish (18:46). Freshman Phoebe Clowser finished 25th (18:50); senior Courtney Kern finished 29th (18:57); junior Melanie Vlasic finished 50th (19:21); sophomore Janki Patel finished 58th (19:33); sophomore Jenna Reimer finished 73rd (19:50); and junior Brianna Mengini finished 85th (20:00).
Suburban One League Individual Top Guns
PIAA District One Championships
Lehigh University
Boys
2. Ross Wilson – CR North (15:19)
5. Jack Macauley – North Penn (15:28)
6. Conner Quinn – Hatboro-Horsham (15:32)
7. Connor Harriman – Pennsbury (15:36)
8. Mac Emery – CR North (15:40)
10. Francis Ferruzzi – Upper Dublin (15:45)
11. Sam Webb – Pennsbury (15:47)
15. James Zingarini – CR North (15:53)
16. Jake Brophy – CB East (15:53)
24. Christian Sanders – Upper Merion (16:00)
25. Kyle Francis – Bensalem (16:01)
Girls
2. Marissa Sheva – Pennridge (17:45)
6. Kate Scott – CR North (18:08)
7. Olivia Sargent – Pennsbury (18:09)
11. Sara Sargent – Pennsbury (18:21)
13. Emory Griffin – CB West (18:24)
14. Maddie Sauer – Pennsbury (18:26)
18. Hannah Molloy – Pennsbury (18:28)
19. Erica Gray – Pennsbury (18:34)
20. Maddie Villalba – CB West (18:34)
23. Elizabeth Wedekind – Pennsbury (18:44)
24. Ali Valenti – North Penn (18:46)
25. Phoebe Clowser – North Penn (18:50)
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