Scott Bush

Sep 08, 2008

Each Monday this fall we're going to bring you further highlights and results, as well as national news stories, that all are making an impact on the national cross country scene. Check out our first Weekly News & Notes of the season.

Monday News & Notes (9/08)

Tracy Walter's Invitational (WA)

Meet Page

The top boys team in the country, U.S.#1 North Central (WA), got their season underway Saturday at the Tracy Walter's Invitational, as the team easily beat a strong field by placing four in the top six. While the meet scored eight athletes in the final team standings, North Central beat Seattle Prep (WA) 79-150. The squads' 1-5 split ran 66 seconds.

North Central was led by senior Andrew Kimpel, who won the 5k race in 15:20.5, as runner-up Adam Thorne (Jr., Joel Ferris, WA) finished 15 seconds back in 15:35.3. Kimpel's teammates Jeff Howard and Leon Dean finished third and fourth, while Seattle Prep was led by junior Drew O'Donoghue-McDonald.

Katie Mahoney (Sr., Richland, WA) won the girls varsity race, outlasting the field by finishing the race in 19:13.5. Mahoney outdistanced herself from runner-up Laura Sauvage (Jr., Seattle Prep, WA) over the final mile, as Sauvage finished in 19:23.3. Seattle Prep (WA) took home the team title 105-111 over Richland (WA).

Niskayuna XC Ekiden (NY)

Meet Page & Results

While it wasn't a normal style invitational, girls U.S.#2 Burnt-Hills (NY) opened up their invitational season with a strong victory at the Niskayuna XC Ekiden. The relay style competition pit five athletes from each team, running on a 2,400m circuit, with the winning team having the lowest overall time in the end.

Despite sitting out a few of their top runners, Burnt-Hills easily beat the field, running a combined time of 49:10.5, while runner-up Colonie (NY) ran 50:01.5. The squad followed a 1-5 order of Carolyn Herkenham (9:19.7), Kayla Dubois (10:31.8), Riley Wilk (10:02.0), Meagan Roecker (10:31.7) and Molly Pezzulo (8:45.3).

Both Sam Roecker and Meaghan Gregory sat out for Burnt-Hills, considered two of their top three runners.

St. Vrain Cross Country Invitational (CO)

Meet Page & Results

One of the most impressive team performances of the weekend came at the St. Vrain CC Invitational Saturday in Colorado. Classical Academy (CO) won the girls team title over Boulder (CO) 24-51, but the way they did it was even more impressive. With a strong 1-2 finish up top by teammates Kaitlin Hanenburg and Shelby Stableford, then having a strong 3-5 pack finishing 6-7-8, Classical Academy made the case to be labeled the top girls team in the state.

Hanenburg continued her dominance from last fall, winning the 5k race in 18:29, while Stableford finished second in 18:41. On the boys side Boulder (CO) turned the tide on Classical Academy (CO), winning the team title 39-70. Classical Academy's Sam Feldotto won in 16:16, while Boulder followed the lead of Ashi Guiles, who finished second in 16:24.

Gettysburg Invitational (PA)

Meet Page & Results

The powerful Latrobe (PA) girls squad competed this past weekend at the always tough Gettysburg Invitational, showing they will be a team to keep an eye on all fall. Led by race winner Natalie Bower, who won the event over runner-up Leigha Anderson (So., Cumberland Valley, PA) 18:41.61-19:12.43, the squad looked mighty impressive. Perhaps the best indicator came from their top three, all of who placed in the top seven. The final tally had Latrobe beating Cumberland Valley 38-57 over the 5k layout on the rain soaked course.

On the boys side, Michael Pierce (Sr., Holy Ghost Prep, PA) won the individual title in 15:58.29, running away from his nearest competition over the back half of the race. However, Pierce's victory couldn't propel his team enough for the victory, as Cumberland Valley bested Holy Ghost Prep 54-69. Cumberland Valley showed good up front talent, but their 3-5 runners were the ones that made up and surpassed Holy Ghost Prep's top five.

Arizona Top Runners Update

AZTrackXC.com (MileSplit Affiliate)

Two of the top runners in the state of Arizona were making news this past week, one with their running and another in other ways. For starters, Xavier College Prep standout Kristina Vanderhout, who was considered to be the squads #3 runner, has transfered from the school to another, meaning she won't compete for the team this fall and will sit out an entire year due to the Arizona transfer rules. In the first MileSplit National CC Rankings of the year, Xavier College Prep ranked U.S. #5.

In other news...at the Peaks Invitational (AZ) Saturday, MileSplit ranked West #9 individual Brian Shrader (Jr., Sinagua, AZ) finished second in the Summit Race, despite laying low the past few weeks with illness. Shrader is on the road to recovery and is back training near 100%.