Midweek Long Run

This weekend there will be a meet that is commonly refered to as the "pre-states" meet at Hershey's cross country course that will play host to the 2011 PIAA State Championships in just over a month. However, the true states preview race is not happening in Hershey, but instead at Carlisle High School at the biggest invitational of the season.

This race over the past few years has truly blossomed into the biggest midseason meet any team can run in. Last year the race produced an astounding amount of future state medalists and team title contenders. Out of the 25 AAA state medalists in 2010, 13 of them ran in this race. 1st place finisher Ryan Gil was a distant 4th in the race, while state runner up Wade Endress was 2nd to Martin Hehir, a future footlocker finalist from New York. The race also included top 10 finishers at States Jacob Kildoo (5th at states, 6th at this meet), Reece Ayers (6th at States, 12th at Carlisle) and Sam Hibbs (7th at States, 9th at Carlisle). And of course AA State Champion Tom Gruschow was also in the race, finishing 31st.

In the team race, Tunkhannock (6th at States, 9th at Carlisle), Mt. Lebanon (7th at States, 6th at Carlisle), Hatboro Horhsam (8th at States, 11th at Carlisle), LaSalle (10th at States, 4th at Carlisle), North Penn (2nd at District One Championships, 17th at Carlisle), Altoona (5th at States, 2nd at Carlisle), and North Allegheny (1st at both meets) were all in attendance. Wow.

This year things shouldn't be less epic. When factoring in the Challenge race and the Championship race there are a lot of guys who were in the top 50 at states a year ago who are coming out to race. Quinn Devlin is the top returner from the meet. He was 5th here a year ago but had back luck at states dropping him to 26th at the big race (3rd at Districts, just a spot behind Hibbs). Hibbs is the top returner from the State Championships and is coupled with the top sophomore from the meet Conner Quinn (20th at States, 18th at Carlisle).

Other top 5 at states hopefuls include Alex Moran and Logan Steiner who were 14th and 13th at states a year ago and 14th and 11th at this meet.

Other men returning from the top 50 last year include Korey Replogle, Matt Croft, Connor Strynkowski, Dan Davis, Jake Seigel, and Dan Jaskowak (a name you should know).

Plus guys like Lawtin Tellin, Tom Coyle, Francis Ferruzzi, Jack Macauley and Brendan Shearn are all supposedly entered this year and are ranked in my top 50.

Meanwhile North Allegheny, Mt. Lebanon, and North Penn are all teams to watch this season and all competed in this meet a year ago.

Overall this meet should be epic and it is something you definitely don't want to miss.