12/20-AAU & USATF XC results/links and a story on future stars

The AAU and USATF have thriving youth programs during all seasons, and XC is no exception. The Philadelphia CYO and Emery TC showed well at the AAU Nationals on December 6th in Kettering, Ohio on the same course as the Mid-East Regional Championships. Bensalem's Ashley Kelly was 7th in the Young Women's race.

And at the USATF Nationals on December 13th in Albuquerque, New Mexico, PA's Erin Kearney finished 5th in the Midget Girls race.

Philly CYO's Mary Ellen Malloy reported on the conditions and some of the AAU athletes who will be helping high school programs in the years to come.

Links for Results (Mid-Atlantic and Region 2 USATF Results are on the results page)

AAU National XC Champs Results

USATF Junior Olympics XC Champs Results

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The course at nationals could best be described as sloppy. It rained on Thursday night and we had steady rain on Friday during the course review. By the time the races started on Saturday, the weather was overcast and cold, but the course was incredibly muddy. The Philadelphia CYO had a decent day. The bantom girls finished third as a team. The midget girls were second and the youth boys and girls both finished in third place.

There will be some very good talent entering the high school ranks from this group next year. Both the Catholic League and the suburban leagues will benefit from this group. Kelly McEldrew will probably be heading to Gwynedd. Beth Ann Kelly should go to O'Hara. Rachel Morelli (had a bad day on Saturday) will join her sisters at St. Basil. Katie McShay and Caroline Grant should also end up at O'Hara. That would give them a very solid freshmen class next year.

On the boys side, Brian Kealey and Brian Clark should go to Wood. Andrew Golato, Mike Garrity and Ed Buck will most likely be at O'Hara. Joe DiEmidio might go to Ridley.

In the future, watch for Philip Wood (7th place in the midget boys), Amanda Bascelli (7th place in the midget girls) and Devon Kane (11th place in the midget girls). They will be future stars.

- Mary Ellen Malloy, Philadelphia CYO Cross Country


Top Ten PA performances at AAU Nationals

Bantam Girls
3 PHILADELPHIA CYO A 120
16 Fulmer, Samantha 93 PHILADELPHIA CYO A 13:25.58

Bantam Boys
5 PHILADELPHIA CYO A 179
31 Stone, Brendan 93 PHILADELPHIA CYO A 12:58.56

Midget Girls
2 PHILADELPHIA CYO A 112
7 Bascelli, Amanda 92 PHILADELPHIA CYO A 12:09.68

Midget Boys
4 PHILADELPHIA CYO A 121
5 Gillette, Matthew 91 EMERY TRACK & FIELD 11:16.59
14 Wood, Philip 91 PHILADELPHIA CYO A 11:37.35

Youth Girls
3 PHILADELPHIA CYO A, GWYNE 87
16 MC Eldrew, T Kelly 89 PHILADELPHIA CYO, G 16:31.49
17 MC Shay, Kaitlyn 90 PHILADELPHIA CYO, S 16:31.60
18 Fulmer, Stephanie 90 PHILADELPHIA CYO, P 16:33.82

Youth Boys
3 PHILADELPHIA CYO A 147
6 McNALLY, Vince 90 EMERY TRACK & FIELD 14:24.49
22 Kealey, Brian 89 PHILADELPHIA CYO A 15:01.15
23 Golato, Andrew 90 PHILADELPHIA CYO A 15:01.54
24 DI Emidio, Joseph 90 PHILADELPHIA CYO A 15:02.79

Intermediate Girls
39 Miller, Kelly 88 EMERY TRACK & FIELD 21:59.45

Young Women
7 Kelly, Ashley 85 UNATTACHED 20:36.09
28 Malloy, Julie 86 PHILADELPHIA CYO A 22:39.54

12/20-Ed Bosch remembers Koons (and other talented harriers) from CYO