Running to glory
SLIPPERY ROCK — Think cross country isn't a team sport? Guess again.
Seneca Valley's and Butler's boys, along with Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic's girls, all qualified for the PIAA meet Thursday during the WPIAL Cross Country Championships Thursday at Cooper's Lake.
The Raiders won the Class AAA team title with 55 points, edging out North Allegheny (62). Butler finished third with 130. The top three teams advance, along with the top 15 individuals.
“We knew we were right there with North Allegheny,” Seneca Valley coach Steve Strelick said. “Putting three guys in the top 10 ... That's the best we could have hoped to do.
“Your goal is always to win. You just never know how it's going to shake out. Your fourth and fifth guys always play a critical role in this.”
Sophomore Sam Owori led SV with a fourth-place finish in 16 minutes, 41 seconds. Senior Trey Razanauskas was fifth, sophomore Seth Ketler seventh. Juniors Alex Dixon and Christian Resch were 17th and 22nd, respectively, for the Raiders.
Butler junior Noah Beveridge keyed the Golden Tornado's effort, taking second overall in the AAA boys race in 16:35. He lost out to Mark Provenzo of Franklin Regional.
“He ran a smart race,” Beveridge said of Provenzo. “He got out to a bigger lead at the start than I could close on at the finish. Another mile or so, I might have run him down.
“I'm happy with second, but I always want to be the best. I think I can surprise people at Hershey. That course is suited for me.”
The PIAA Championships will be Nov. 4 in Hershey.
Junior Brett Brady finished 19th overall for Butler in 17:08. Aden Dressler, a senior, was 30th in 17:26 while junior Robbie Hays was 37th and senior Steven Patterson 42nd.
Butler's boys qualified for states as a team for the first time since 2000.
“I couldn't be happier,” Butler coach Rick Davanzati said. “The team ran great today in tough conditions. Aden shaved 25 seconds off his best time.”
The course was mucky from rain earlier in the day and runners competed in a chilly wind.
“Temperature-wise, the 50s are good for this event,” Davanzati said. “The body doesn't take as long to cool down after the race.”Strelick agreed.“You wear the right spikes. All I told my runners were to watch your footing,” he said.Butler junior Maggie Welty had no problem with the weather, finishing third overall in the girls meet in 19:13. The time was her personal best.“Noah challenged me before the race to finish in the top five,” Welty said. “We challenge each other all of the time. It motivates both of us.“I was fine with this weather. The air felt good. I'm glad I wore the half-inch spikes, though.”The CW North Catholic girls advanced to states as a team in only the program's third year of existence. Mars resident and CWNC junior Rylee Kopchak, whose mother Stacy coaches the Trojanettes, qualified for states as a freshman.No other CWNC female runner had ever qualified before this year.“It's a wonderful feeling,” Coach Kopchak said. “These girls made school history today.”Rylee finished fifth overall in the Class A girls race, running a 20:22.“I wanted to break 20 minutes, but I'll take this,” she said. “My goal was to be in the top five.“I was sick before last year's (WPIAL) race. I tried running anyway to get to states and passed out after two miles. Today was much better.”Qualifying for the state meet in the Class AA boys race were Knoch senior Max Freyermuth (eighth) and Freeport junior Johnathan Asay (11th).Freyermuth ran the course in 17:12. Knoch's boys placed sixth as a team.“I finished third here last year, but I had strep throat this week,” Freyermuth said. “I wasn't at my best strength-wise, but I got through it.”
