PA Finishers at Regionals

As mentioned, it's my dad's birthday today and it was also the day of my annual Felixbowl game so I won't really have time to go in depth today. I'll post up some of the top PA performances including National qualifiers and take a look at the results so that when I get some free time I can share my thoughts and hopefully give you something interesting to read.

But for now ....
PA @ NXN NE
4. Kevin James 16:05.9
Qualifies for Nationals for a second straight year as an individual
Other two time individual national qualifiers in recent years: Tony Russell (technically he would have but his team qualified) and Brad Miles. That may be it for the past decade or so. Elite company for KJ.
10. Aaron Gebhart 16:20.4
Won't qualify for nationals unfortunately, but a fantastic run in the very difficult NXN race.
15. Matt McGoey 16:27.6
Top runner for North Allegheny who was PA's top team in third
17. Alex  Knapp 16:31.4
Consistently goes HAM on this course. Nice way to go out for the senior.
21. Hunter Wharrey 16:37.1
26. Ryan James 16:42.6
Top PA sophomore and #2 sophomore overall in the race
28. Scott Seel 16:43.43
Last PA guy in the top 30 finishers

PA Teams
3. NA 193
90 points out of second, and just 5 ahead of third which likely means no nats this year, but clearly PA's top team and a fantastic season.
7. Cardinal O'Hara 253

Full results available here: http://nxnne.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?event_id=301&do=news&news_id=302063

Footlocker NE PA Boys
4. Casey Comber 15:36.4
5. Jake Brophy 15:37.4

Fantastic run for both guys, making nationals is no easy task. Only two PA boys to get through the obstacles Big days for Comber to breakthrough, he and Brophy are likely good friends and have a healthy conference rivalry. Jake had gotten the best of him for a while now, but Comber was able to turn the tables today. I'm intrigued to see how both stack up at nats (obviously this is much higher than I saw Comber finishing) as top 5 in the region would suggest somewhere around 20th (4 regions, top 5 from each) so we will have to see.

State titles and running well at states gets you into the all time great conversations, but getting to the top is determined by runs at regionals and nationals. Brophy still just a junior, hard to remember that at times. Top Junior in the race at 5th, highest Junior Pa has had at Footlocker regionals since who knows when. However, another senior takes top spot for PA. Maybe not a coincidence that this continues to happen every single year.

14. Paul Power 15:53.3
Thrilled by this run. Kid had a tough final mile at states, but clearly was very talented. Compared him to Cummings in the preview and he delivered today. Awesome end to a career for a very talented and hard working runner. Props.

15. Dom Hockenbury 15:53.7
16. Colin Abert 15:56.9

Really fast times, just a tough year to make it through to nats obviously. Hockenbury runs really well for a Junior, probably disappointed but he will be back with a vengeance. Abert was apparently sick leading up to this race. Regardless, top 20 at FL NE twice in a row is no joke.

28. Sam Ritz 16:11.1
PA's last runner in the top 30 and our #6 for the race

40. Sebastian Curtin 16:22.7
Round's out PA's top 7

NY barely edges out PA 52-54 in the team standings, but we bested the rest of the Region! A nice moment for the PA boys.

Joseph Angelina 8th in Junior/Senior race (4th Junior), Connor Irwin 14th (7th Junior)

Dave Sadvary top Senior for PA, 20th in race (9th Senior)

The website isn't updating for the Frosh/Soph results right now, but I know Seth Slavin represented PA with a win.

PA girls will be sending 4 (WPIAL pride): Schwartz (1st), Davidson (4th), Sheva (7th), and Potts (8th)

Results link: http://www.footlockercc.com/2014/results.shtml

Major props to all of those who represented PA. I'm really proud to talk and brag about all you have achieved this cross country season and thanks to James, Comber and Brophy we aren't done just yet!