Pennsylvania State Meet

11/6/99
5000 meters - Sunny, breezy, 70 deg

Commentary by Don Rich

Dan Coval (left) won his 26th cross country race in a row over the past two
years, winning by a comfortable margin over Lehigh University's 5K
course in 15:18. Leading by 10 seconds at the mile, Coval won by 32
seconds over Mount Lebanon's Shawn Cavanaugh and North Penn's Dave
Atkiss.  He is pictured coming through the mile in 4:50 with a 10-second lead.

The greatest thrill of the day for Coval was not his individual
win, but his team's. Coval lead Council Rock to their first win in
five years over second place Manheim Township,and pre-race favorite
Central Bucks East in third. Council Rock had a run of 8 of 9 years
prior to Coval's freshman year in high school.  Course record was 
set last week by Dan Coval 15:13. Too much wind today, plus he wasn't
challenged. 

"The win means nothing if my team doesn't do well," Coval said just
minutes after learning that his team had taken first. He continued...
"this is our first championship since I've been here, and I'm really
happy right now."

In the boys AA race, Springfield Monto's Tim Carroll pulled away over
the last mile to win in 15:44. Bishop Hafey was the team winner.

In girl's AAA, North Allegheny won. Josianne Lauber of Oxford, who 
has made an oral commitment to North Carolina State, was first
in 18:00.  On the girls side, pre-race favorite Renee Gunning of
Pennridge High School, who was undefeated until today, held the lead at
the mile, but faded shortly after and eventually dropped out. She the
course record at last week's District Championships in 17:42.  
Additionally, Becky Bullard of Perkiomen Valley, finished 7th today,
making it four years in a row she has had a top10 finish.