Mt. Lebanon runner competes in nationals
Patrick Anderson placed 29th overall during the 40th Annual Foot Locker Cross Country Championships held Dec. 8 in San Diego.
During the national finals, the Mt. Lebanon junior clocked a 16:16.4 time on the Morley Field 5K course in Balboa Park.
Race conditions proved ideal with firm terrain, sunshine and temperatures reaching 65 degrees as Cole Hocker of Indianapolis captured first place overall with a 15:13.7 time. Sydney Masciarelli of Northbridge, Mass., won the girls’ race in 17:00.3.
The Foot Locker Championships is comprised of four regional 5K races, which took place across the country in the Midwest (Kenosha, Wis.), Northeast (Bronx, N.Y.), South (Charlotte, N.C.) and West (Walnut, Calif.), culminating at the national finals.
During the Northeast Regional, Anderson clocked a personal record of 15:38.60 and finished sixth overall to earn his national invitation.
Nationals capped a sensational cross country season for Anderson. He captured the PIAA state championship to start November and was also the WPIAL runner-up.
Anderson also helped Lebo to an undefeated section title, a third-place showing in the district team championships and a fifth-place finish at states.
The national showing sets Anderson up for a strong spring season in track. He is a PIAA medalist, finishing sixth in the 1,600-meter run at last year’s state championships.
Carter 2nd
Emily Carter finished second during the Junior Olympics National Cross Country Championships held Dec. 8 in Reno, Nevada.
The Bethel Park sophomore, earlier in the season, finished third in the WPIAL with a PR of 19:03, 20. She placed 11th at the PIAA championships.