Chartiers Valley harries make history
Chartiers Valley set out to make history this season and the boys on the cross country team did exactly that. With a victory last week against Mt. Lebanon, the Colts won the Section 6 title for the first time. They finished 8-0 in the league and 11-0 overall.
“We flew under everyone’s radar most of the season,” said head coach Lori Poe. “Our goal has always been to be competitive in our section, which is brutal. Becoming the first team in school history to win a section title is huge for our program. It shows that all the hard work the guys have put in during the off season is paying off.”
The Colts, however, are not finished. After winning the Mingo Creek Classic in their division, the boys are preparing to make noise in the WPIAL Class AAA championships set for Oct. 29 at Coopers Lake. Last year, the Colts finished 12th in the team standings and Joe Westrick was the squad’s lone PIAA qualifier.
“Coming into the season,” Poe said, “we set a few goals. First was to make history and win the section. Second is to improve on our team performance at the WPIAL finals, going after a team spot and getting as many individuals to states as possible.
“When I first started coaching at CV,” Poe continued, “the kids strived to be the best at CV. Now they know they can run with the best.”
Next to North Allegheny, Mt. Lebanon is the best. So the triumph over the Blue Devils was a coupe of sorts for the Colts.
Because their dual meet with Lebo back in September was rained out, the Colts raced their rival during a quad meet that also included Baldwin and Peters Township. CV had beaten the Highlanders and the Indians previously so it was just a battle with Lebo.
The teams tied, 28-28, but Eli Zajicek broke the deadlock. The CV freshman was the first sixth man from either team to finish first.
“Elias is an awesome long sprinter so when he was closing in on their fifth runner, I knew if he got close to him before the track he would take him,” Poe said.
She conceded, however, that it was a team effort. Joe Westrick won the race in 16:36 ahead of Lebo’s Todd Gunzehauser (16:45) and Ian Harris (16:53). Westrick has only lost in dual meet action this year to Nick Wolk. The Peters Township harrier won the Mingo Classic in 15:46, ahead of Westrick, who finished in 16:12. Wolk has been the top runner this fall.
Micah Colson finished fourth and Czar Tarr followed in sixth place overall. Matt Thomas and Patrick Beatty took eighth and ninth positions.
“My guys just went out after it,” Poe said. “They had more heart and determination than our opponent. We told them they had nothing to lose and to make Lebo work for the win.
“Truly it was a team win. All season our top seven guys have changed. Some guys stepped up when others have struggled. We have built off of each meet and invitational, taking it one at a time.”
During the season, Poe has been pleased with her seniors (Westrick, Colson and Thomas). “They have carried the load. They have set the pace,” she said. Poe also noted the job Tarr did in “stepping up” which also keyed the win.
“After each meet we have talked about closing the time between runners and running as a pack. We knew Lebo had a strong pack and we would have to mix into their pack to have a shot at beating them.”
The Colts hope to use the victory as a springboard for the WPIAL championships. Poe said that her runners “gained a lot of confidence” from the win. “Mt. Lebanon is a powerhouse program with a strong history,” she said. “So going toe-to-toe with them in a race like this will help us prepare for other teams and to face Lebo again.
“Our goal is three-fold,” she added. “Improve from last year’s showing. Qualify as a team for states. Get the most individuals we can to move on to the PIAA.”
Note: In addition to Wolk and CV doing well in the Mingo Classic, Jonas Wudkwych from Canon-McMillan and Michael Stemler from Upper St. Clair placed fourth and fifth in the Class AAA boys’ standings. The Big Macs followed CV in second place as a team with 54 points, followed by USC (96), Baldwin (108) and Peters Township (128).
South Fayette won the Class AA boys’ division with 27 points. Sam Snodgrass and Aaron Pfeil finished 2-3 behind Ben Bumgarner from Waynesburg. Mike Cusik followed in fifth place for the Lions.
In the Class AAA girls’ division, Peters, Bethel Park, USC and CV took the top four slots in the team standings. BP’s Danielle Hinish won the race in 18:50 followed by Savannah Shaw from USC. PT’s Chloe Grzyb and Sydney When placed third and fourth and BP’s Karissa Coffield finished fifth overall.
The Lady Lions won the Class AA division followed by Keystone Oaks. South Fayette swept the first three places with Maria DeCello, Allison Gates and Hannah Kenawell. Sydney Lerda was fifth.