The Running Diaries: Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

VaniaRunning.com State Meet Preview, November 1^st 2016  
            The stage is set for another fantastic cross country state championships. Weather is forecast to be in the low 60s with a bit of cloud cover by the time the Boys AAA race begins. When the gun sounds, all eyes will be on the defending champion, Jimmy Springer, and his quest for history. The Union Valley Senior, competing for the last time on Hershey's legendary course, will be chasing yet another state gold to add to his massive collection (we count 8 here in the press box). Of course, many have speculated Springer will not just be racing the other runners, but also the ghost of runners' past.
            Currently, Springer boasts a best of 15:11 on this course from his 2014 race, the 2nd fastest ever over the Parkview hills. The only man faster is Grove City's Matt McWilliams, who ran an unfathomable 15:02 back in 1979. After years of challengers, could this be the race that the record (and perhaps the unthinkable 15 minute barrier) is finally bested?
            “I’m really excited to watch Jimmy,” says Union Valley Coach Ned Wall, “It’s amazing to go to a meet and see the kind of attention he attracts from the other runners. He’s like a rock star. Accomplishing all that he has with that kind of pressure and expectation on his shoulders is truly remarkable for a teenager.”
            But Springer is not the only one with championship hopes. District Three Champion Henry Gonzalez has throttled everyone in his path, including a prestigious win at the Carlisle Invitational last September. He finished 13^th at states last season, but is hoping for a leap forward in 2016. Mount Lebanon’s Noah West is fresh off an upset victory at the WPIAL Championships and his stock is on the rise as the state meet approaches. The Junior is currently competing in his first season of cross country, meaning he will be a rookie on this difficult lay-out. Liam Conley of Methacton and Bernard Mirun of North Penn both lost to Springer at the District One Championships, but hope to flip the script on the champion in their upcoming rematch.
            Mirun’s run will be extra important when you consider the team implications for Saturday’s race. The Knights of North Penn will be attempting to usurp the defending champions from Coatesville in Hershey just a week after the teams faced off at Lehigh’s state qualifying meet. In that match up, North Penn won gold, but it was a tight finish: just five points separated the top two teams. The good news for Coatesville is that Senior leaders Kyle King and Andre Garnett both placed in the top twelve last year on this Hershey course and should provide the extra spark needed to turn the tide this weekend.
            Don’t sleep on the potential upset team: the North Allegheny Tigers. This team came out of nowhere to score just 36 points at the WPIAL championships, a dominant victory over the rest of the district. The emergence of sophomore sensation Gil Roberts has transformed this team into a title contender. If one of the top squads falters, watch out for Cumberland Valley and West Chester North who will each be gunning for a top five finish.
            Ultimately, the most important rule at Hershey is to expect the unexpected. The course has taken many victims, providing thrilling finishes and dramatic upsets. It’s Cross Country racing at its finest. Good luck to all the athletes who will be competing!