Baldwin sr Dan Mazzocco, 226th in 2000, was 1st this year in AAA.
Andy Weilacher and Jesi Christensen repeated as AA champs.
Highlights
by Don Rich, PennTrackXC.com
And that's why they run the races. While much of the day followed
form, there were some thrills and near spills at the 2001 State
Cross Country Championships. Exactly what you'd expect racing
next door to an amusement park.
The most exciting finish of the day was in Girls AAA, as four-time
XC Medalist North Allegheny senior Stephanie Madia used all of
her experience to chase down this year's newest star, Jessica
Cickay of Council Rock, in the final ten meters. Cickay led from
the gun, but could never get a lead of more than 40 meters. Madia
ran the fastest time of the day, a 19:04.
The team champion again came from District 11. Last year, Parkland.
This year, Allentown Central Catholic. They were almost caught
by one of those pack-attackers, North Penn. But the 18 points
NP spotted ACC with each of their first two runners proved too
big a deficit. Pre-race favorite and nationally-ranked Council
Rock was not able to move enough runners into a range to catch
Allentown Central Catholic.
In Boys AAA, PA's other nationally ranked squad, Cedar Cliff,
delivered on their potential as well as their dream, winning in
convincing fashion by 42 points by placing three in the top 12,
and the fourth in 27th. Late season charger West Chester Henderson
was a comfortable runner-up, being joined by the other four District
One teams in 3-6, Council Rock, Great Valley, and Hatboro-Horsham,
and 2000 champ, Coatesville.
And how's an improvement of 226 places in the AAA race? Baldwin's
Dan Mazzocco learned a lot about course management this year,
and in doing so, learned how to win consistently. His 16:03 was
the fastest time of the day.
In Girls AA, Jesi Christensen repeated as champion, taking the
lead before the mile and holding on for two-four second margins
over hard-charging Leanna Nastase of Forest Hills, Charity Learn
of Mansfield, and Stacey Muchal of Valley View. In the team competition,
Wyomissing three-peated with just 72 points, the lowest total
of the day. Their top four medalled.
And in Boys AA, Eisenhower's Andy Weilacher repeated as state
champ, running alone from the gun to finish in 16:05.5, the second
fastest time of the day. Accompanied this year by his full team,
the squad from Northwest PA nearly took the state team title,
but came up a point short to power Scranton Prep.
Angie Saterstad knows she is a finisher now
Angie Saterstad nearly goes down, but perseveres, thanks to
some help from a friend.
This story is repeated many times at virtually every cross country
race
in the country. But this one occurred in a championship race,
in the
midst of fierce competition, and involved an athlete and the coach
of a
competitor.
Hershey's Angie Saterstad was one of the favorites prior to this
year's
Girls AAA PIAA championship race. She had been 3rd in 2000, and
was the
reigning District 3 champ, having run a 19:18 in high winds on
the same
course the week before.
But in this race, she found herself in an unusual spot. Council
Rock's
Jessica Cickay took it out hard from the gun. Those in the chase
pack
had a choice to make. Pick it up or lose any chance at the individual
championship. Saterstad, eventual champ Stephanie Madia, Kelly
O'Connell, Jessica Perry, Erin Franklin, and Kim Malcolm picked
the
former.
They gave chase, just trying to maintain contact in hopes that
Cickay
would come back to them. They chased through the up and down first
mile,
and through the mostly up second mile. They gave chase through
the dirt
path leading to the final short climb to the top when something
happened
to Saterstad. Her legs buckled, and she almost went down.
In the line of fans was Steve Koons, the head coach of Cumberland
Valley's XC team. Koons leapt to his feet and gave Angie a verbal
boost
that kept her moving.
"I have no idea what happened. I was through the worst part
of the
course and with the lead pack. But when I almost went down, I
really
wanted to stop. And someone yelled my name. Everyone helped me
get back
into it. Then I nearly went down again, but somehow kept it going."
Angie would finish 15th. Well off personal expectations and goals.
But
her memory of the day will be the encouragement she received at
a
crucial time in the race.
"I'm so happy I didn't quit."
The experience should only serve to strengthen the resolve of
one of
PA's favorites to qualify for the Foot Locker Championships at
the
Northeast Regional in New York November 24. Saterstad was 10th
in the
regional race a year ago as a sophomore.
She now knows, without a doubt, that she's a finisher.
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