MERCER COUNTY AREA — HERSHEY — Led by senior standout Dan Jaskowak, Grove City High boys ended as Class AA runners-up at the annual PIAA Cross Country Championships.

Pottsgrove edged the Eagles, 96-99, for the 19-team AA title.

Also Saturday morning at Parkview Course, West Middlesex’s girls, led by Kristen White, ended as runners-up in Class A behind Elk Lake, 66-100.

Jaskowak (16:12) placed 3rd in a time of 16:12 behind Big Spring’s Vinny Todaro (16:00) and North Schuyl-kill’s Brendan Shearn (16:04). Ian Yanusko (17:06) placed 9th to pace Pottsgrove.

“Dan ran at the lead of the pack like he’s done all year,” said Grove City coach Mike Sample. “He’s real even-keel. He doesn’t get too high or too low. He would like to have won, but it wasn’t in the cards.

“Losing the team title by three points was a heartbreaker,” Sample admitted. “Those guys (Pottsgrove) really ran like champions. We just came up a little short. None of the guys should second-guess themselves. They did their best and ran a gutsy race.”

Joining Jaskowak for Grove City were Aaron Benka (18th, 16:53), Ryan Whiteman (52nd, 17:26), Ian Brown (70th, 17:38), John Scott Somora (84th, 17:45), Ryan Budnik (95th, 17:50) and Brandon Wise (171st, 18:35). Jaskowak, Brown, Somora and Wise are seniors.

˝ For West Middlesex, White was clocked in 19:57 to stand 7th. She was followed by Ms. Reds teammates’ Kelsey Murray (34th, 21:05), Chloé Tyillian (45th, 21:13), Alyson Pierce (50th, 21:16), West Middlesex’s lone senior Kia Howe (81st, 21:53), Jordan Aubel (88th, 22:03), and Anna Zrile (132nd, 23:02).

Team titlist Elk Lake was led by 3rd-place finisher Jenny Vanetten (19:50).

ä Among other Mercer County contingents, West Middlesex’s boys stood 6th in Class A. The Big Reds recorded 185 points, while Northeast Bradford — led by the 2-3 finish of Sam Williams (16:13) and Curt Jewett (16:20) — won the 19-team team title by amassing 96 points.

West Middlesex was led by David Johnson (38th, 17:29), Aaron Wilson (70th, 17:53), Levi Canon (100th, 18:17), Brett Kirk (112th, 18:23), R.J. Gilliland (121st, 18:31), Isaac Williams (136th, 18:39) and Jared Germani (151st, 18:55).

“The girls had a fantastic race and the boys placing 6th was a big achievement,” said WM coach Bob Morris. “Only 2 girls teams from Mercer County in the history of state placed 2nd and that was our 2006 team and this year.

“The girls went  out really hard and were actually leading after a mile on the most difficult course in the state. White, who is only a freshman, ran a fantastic race and broke our state record that was held by Julie Thompson in 1992 (19:58).

“They all ran their best times ever. We’re really proud and happy for our seniors (Murray and Howe). It was the first-time ever we beat Central Cambria, which was ranked 2nd in the state and we were 4th.

“On the boys side, Johnson ran his best time ever and did a great job and it was the first time Wilson, who is a senior, broke 18 on the state course.

“I’d like to thank my assistant coaches (Ellen List, Emily Darby, Geraldine Truog, Chelsea Jones, Gary Salatino) for their outstanding efforts and would like to thank the runners who are very dedicated and work hard. They always go a step beyond what we ask. It was a great year.”

ä Also in the 19-team girls’ A race, Wilmington was 9th with 223 points. The Lady Greyhounds were paced by Rikki Brumbaugh, who took 32nd in a time of 21:01. She was followed by teammates Allison Baldwin (56th, 21:22), Kate Robb (82nd, 21:55), Hannah Drake (129th, 23:01), Hannah Winters (151st, 23:36), Isabel Sherwood (195th, 26:44) and Alexandra Abdel-Nabi (197th, 27:24).

˝ Also in Class A, Commodore Perry’s Nathan White was 30th in 17:19; Mercer’s Kevin Reno recorded an 18:10 clocking to finish 92nd; while Sharpsville’s Maddie Przicina placed 74th (21:42).

ä In Class AA, Hickory’s girls ended 16th (381), with Palmyra pacing the 20-team field with 91 points.

For Hickory, it was: Lexi Bible (65th, 20:45), Jackie Abraham (80th, 20:58), Haley Boyd (132nd, 21:31), Bailey Brown (181st, 22:30), Paige Brown (215th, 23:44), Jordyn Kalp (218th, 23:50) and Ciara Sonoga (220th, 23:53).

˝ Also competing in AA were Greenville’s Maddie Thrasher (82nd, 21:00), and Grove City’s Hanna Sanford (85th, 21:01), Mary Jaskowak (114th, 21:18) and Katie Jaskowak (138th, 21:33).

˝ Other county Class AA competitors included Sharon’s Cory Buchanan (114th, 17:59), and Hickory’s Kyle Boyd (142nd, 18:10) and Kevin Janscar (162nd, 18:20).

“I’d like to congratulate all the other teams and athletes that participated,” Sample said. “ I know Bob Morris ended up in the same situation as us — close, but not quite. But all the local kids did a good job. I’d also like to send a shout-out to all the Grove City fans for their support throughout the season.

For additional results, visit www.runhigh.com.



PIAA CROSS COUNTRY

CHAMPIONSHIPS

GIRLS

CLASS AA

Team Standings: 1. Palmyra 91; 2. Dallas 94; 3. Holy Redeemer 121; 4. Villa Maria 151; 5. York Suburban 166; 6. Danville 191; 7. Archbishop Wood 228; 8. Uniontown Area 259; 9. Northwestern Lehigh 268; 10. Gwynedd Mercy 282.

Individual Results: 1. Adair Gennocro (St. Marys) 19:00; 2. Elizabeth Chikotas (Saucon Valley) 19:08; 3. Regan Rome (Dallas) 19:14; 4. Marissa Durako (Holy Redeemer) 19:21; 5. Rachel Sowinski (Holy Redeemer) 19:24; 6. Summer Hill (Honesdale) 19:30; 7. Julie Friend (Uniontown Area) 19:32; 8. Alexis O’Shea (West Allegheny) 19:37; 9. Maria Tukis (Palmyra) 19:40; 10. Miranda Salvo (Palmyra) 19:43.

CLASS A

Team Standings: 1. Elk Lake 66; 2. West Middlesex 100; 3. Central Cambria 129; 4. Elk County Catholic 146; 5. New Hope-Solebury 177; 6. Laurel 179; 7. Penn Cambria 179; 8. Montrose 185; 9. Wilmington 223; 10. Shenango 247.

Individual Results: 1. Kennedy Weisner (Elk County Catholic) 18:29; 2. Alyssa Brandis (Central Cambria) 19:42; 3. Casey Norton (Troy) 19:43; 4. Jenny Vanetten (Elk Lake) 19:50; 5. Emily Maxwell (Laurel) 19:53; 6. McKenna Spence (Cranberry) 19:55; 7. Kristen White (West Middlesex) 19:57; 8. Erika Huffman (Wyalusing) 20:01; 9. Destiny Foster (Towanda) 20:07; 10. Dee Dee Adams (Freedom Area) 20:08.

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BOYS

CLASS AA

Team Standings: 1. Pottsgrove 96; 2. Grove City 99; 3. Anneville-Cleona 151; 4. Tunkhannock 152; 5. Scranton Prep 167; 6. Monsignor Bonner 197; 7. Quaker Valley 232; 8. Lewisburg 234; 9. Towanda 243; 10. South Fayette 246; 11. Northwestern Lehigh 293; 12. Manheim Central 303; 13. York Suburban 309; 14. Archbishop Wood 329; 15. Mars 337; 16. Somerset 350; 17. Gen. McLane 369; 18. Punxsutawney 372; 19. Allentown Central Catholic 450.

Individual Results: 1. Vinny Todaro (Big Spring) 16:00; 2. Brendan Shearn (North Schuylkill) 16:04; 3. Dan Jaskowak (Grove City) 16:12; Aaron Valcroso (Towanda) 16:29; 5. Kieran Sutton (Lake-Lehman) 16:30; 6. Mitchell Smith (Bellefonte) 16:38; 7. Calvin Conrad-Kline (Palmyra) 16:38; 8. Xavier Sauvageau (Littlestown) 16:39; 9. Sean Walker (Lewisburg) 16:39; 10. Tyler Rigby (South Park) 16:42.

CLASS A

Team Standings: 1. Northeast Bradord 96; 2. Elk Lake 133; 3. Saegertown 142; 4. Oswayo Valley 155; 5. Vincentian Academy 160; 6. West Middlesex 185; 7 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 196; 8. Northern Potter 229; 9. Mercyhurst Prep 249; 10 Masterman 255; 11. Northgate 269; 12. Westmont Hilltop 270; 13. New Hope-Solebury 282; 14. Lackawanna Trail 291; 15. Veritas Academy 308; 16. Richland 363; 17. Southern Fulton 413; 18. Paul Robeson 477; 19. Minersville Area 550.

 Individual Results: 1. Rico Galassi (Holy Cross) 15:59; 2. Luke Jones (Elk Lake) 16:00; 3. Sam Williams (Northeast Bradford) 16:13; 4. Curt Jewett (Northeast Bradford) 16:20; 5. Jeremy Parsons (Maplewood) 16:28; 6. Barrett Kemp (Oswago Valley) 16:34; 7. Ryan Smathers (North East) 16:35; 8. Griffin Molino (South Williamsport) 16:36; 9. Wes Roberts (Freedom Area) 16:39; 10. Jake DeWeese (Freedom Area) 16:43.