William Tennent Invitational @ WIlliam Tennent HS - Jamestown VA senior Bryce Ruiz tied the 1999 course record of Foot Locker Finalist Dan Coval with a 14:47.2 for the 4800 meter course to lead his team to a 56-72 win over Council Rock (SE PA #2). The closest competitor was Council Rock senior Mike Didio, 30 seconds back. Upper Moreland was third with 115 points. Wissahickon (SE PA #3) ran into a surprisingly tough Hatboro-Horsham team (SE PA #8), losing by 30, 109-79. But Wissahickon # 1 runner, senior Erin Franklin, continued her winning with a close finish (17:55.6) over Villa Maria senior Kim Malcolm (17:59.9), who is running her first XC season. Fellow first-timer Jessie Yester, Downingtown, a junior, was 36 seconds back for third.

Pictures and report by Lee Underhill

Erin Franklin

Bryce Ruiz

The highlight of the meet was Jamestown senior Bryce Ruiz who ran 14:47.16 and broke the varsity boys course record by just .03 of a second. He set a blistering pace and broke the field by the mile mark. The field included two unbeaten and unchallenged runners in Mike Didio from Council Rock and Mark Mullelly of Upper Moreland. Ruiz ran splits of 4:35 at the mile marker and 9:35 at the two mile marker. The record was previously set by Danny Coval of Council Rock in 1999 (14:47.19). Coval was one of the best if not best runner to ever come out of PA. He was our Foot Locker Northeast Regional champion and finished in the top 10 to earn All-American honors.

Erin Franklin a senior Wissahickon went after the girls record of 17:44 held by Melissa Benner of Council Rock set back in 1986 but fell a bit short finishing in 17:55.53. It was a pack race until the famous "HILL" where Fanklin and Kim Malcolm of Villa Maria Academy broke away from the field. Franklin and Malcolm ran stride for stride for the remainder of the race. Coming into the stadium Franklin surged and broke away for good to finish 17:55.53 to Malcolm's 17:59.85.

Here is an account of Tennent on MileStat, the Virginia web site published by Jamestown runner Brandon Miles:

WARMINSTER, PA -- For the past three years, the Jamestown boys cross country team has marked the William Tennent on their calendars as the turning point in their season where they begin to gear up for the championship races. This year was no different as the squad had their best team performance thus far this season. The team ran away with the title with a field that included traditional Pennsylvania power and highly ranked Council Rock.

Setting the tone for Jamestown was the finest performance ever put forth by senior Bryce Ruiz in his running career. Ruiz brok ethe William Tennent High School 3 mile course record by a hairline with his time of 14:47.16. The manner in which he did it and the person whose record he broke, made his performance even more so awe-inspiring.

Jamestown runners Jonna Reinhardt and Tony Davila continued to have simply incredible seasons where they could run as #1 runners on most squads, yet find themselves #2 and #3 for Jamestown. Reinhardt took 3rd in the race with a time of 15:21.96. Davila took 5th in a time of 15:27.48. The two runners finished not far behind Council Rock senior Mike Didio, who is considered one of the top runners in the state of Pennsylvania. Finishing with a team average of 15:39.71 and 56 total points, the Eagles were too much for Council Rock with 72 points.

Delaware County Championships @ Rose Tree Park - Cardinal O'Hara lived up to the pre-race predictions, winning both boys (SE PA #1) and girls (SE PA #4) championships. The boys went 3-4-5-6-17 for just 35 points, 40 better than Bonner. And the girls, with 63 points, were 41 better than Haverford. Springfield's Stephanie Thomas, a senior, took the win in a final sprint against O'Hara's Danielle Schopf, 19:08-19:09. Penncrest senior Bob Craft ran 16:28 to secure a three second win over Strath Haven's Andrew Combs.