 |
DyeStat Cross Country 2000
11/4/00 at Bucknell University
PA State Meet
by Don Rich, publisher of DyeStatPA -
Go to DyeStatPA for complete
coverage of the Pennsylvania state meet
It was a perfect day for cross country. Cloudy. Cool. No wind. The best runners in the state were ready to test their training and their mettle in a race with everything on the line at the PIAA State XC Championships at Bucknell University on Saturday, November 4, 2000.
There were great victories and devastating disappointments. There were first time state titles and a repeat. And there was the fulfillment of a season of expectations, and a glimpse of great things to come.
In the AAA girl's race, one of the pre-race favorites, Lauren Bricker, a sophomore from Hempfield (7), collapsed 40 yards from the finish and was passed by 12 runners before crawling across in 14th place. She had run 90% of the race stride-for-stride with eventual champion Paige Miller of Wissahickon. Miller had overcome doubts of her own, and two sub-par performances in recent weeks to power to the win in 18:47. Stephanie Madia, North Allegheny, moved up one spot from her 1999 performance to finish second 20 seconds back. District 1 champ Katie Ewart, the one Pennsylvania runner to defeat Miller this year (the last two weeks at League's and the District 1 meet), fought off a cold and finished fourth in 19:19, just ahead of rising soph Angie Saterstad of Line Mountain (19:09), the District 4 champ.
In the girls AAA team competition, Parkland, D 11, became the first District state champ in cross country. And they had to beat the defending champs, the powerful and deep North Allegheny squad by 18 points, 100 to 118 to do it. And to show that District 11 was indeed talented this year, Allentown Central Catholic finished third.
In the boys AAA competition, Shawn Cavanaugh got the state championship he had missed last year when the whole Commonwealth ran second to Council Rock's Dan Coval. Cavanaugh was not feeling his best for the first half of the race, but maintained contact until his legs recovered enough to give it a last shot. He passed CB East's Karl Dusen in the final straightaway and held on to win in 16:15. Dusen was three seconds back. He was joined in the top four by District One mates Dave Atkiss of North Penn (16:23), and Eamon Brazunas, of Great Valley (16:33). Northampton's Mike Vidumsky, who ran most of the race at the front, was fifth in 16:35. One of the pre-race favorites, Dan Mazzacco, of Baldwin, went out with the leaders, but faded to finish out of the medals.
The team race came down to two squads not accustomed to the top podium, but whose performances this year served as testimony that the programs are not only well coached, but well motivated. Coatesville used the surprise fifth team spot finish by senior Jesse Yacoe to secure the title with 112 points, just 11 points ahead of Cedar Cliff. Cedar Cliff, a team with the top five intact next year, came off a stunning 40 District 3 win last week to nearly take the title. Their second place state finish ties the best school effort by any Cedar Cliff team. CB East and Council Rock finished third and fourth.
The AA Girls race was the repeat coronation of Wyomissing, whose 69 points easily outdistanced Scranton Prep. Wyomissing was led by three medalists, Debbie Huss, 2nd in 19:36, Janna Sallade, 12th in 20:11, and Debbie's twin Amy, 13th in 20:17. The race went to favorite Jesi Christiansen, a sophomore from Greenville, in District 10. Christensen pushed the pace on the flats, while Huss pushed the hills, as they went back and forth until Jesi pulled away to win in 19:33.
The AA Boys race held true to form as junior Andy Weilacher led much of the final two miles to win in 16:25. Wyomissing's Joel Moceri, who was running on a bad hip, challenged the whole race before being caught at the line and finishing third behind Matt Cornwell of the Christian School of York. Cornwell finished in 16:47.
Scranton Prep won the team title with 102 points behind the 8th place finish of Jonathon Pastore. York Suburban was second with 156 points.
Return to DyeStat Pennsylvania page
