Mid Week Long Run

Dustin Wilson already kicked off the action with a huge course record at his home course (I think it was by over a minute or something like that) which means I need to get cracking on the Mid Week Long Run a little early if I am going to cover all the big championship meets coming up! It is arguably the most wonderful time of the year right now track fans (no offense Christmas), so let's get down to business and see what is in our stocking for the week ahead.

10/18 Lebanon Lancaster League Championships
Last year Cedar Crest took down the title behind Alex Galli and strong pack of guys, but this year the team race is much more wide open. On the individual side John Ausel and Nate Kreider both have made it onto the rankings and had strong seasons a year ago. Hopefully they can turn things around and show their stuff again at this championship meet. The team battle is certainly going to be close, Anville-Celona, Manheim Township, Elizabethtown, Conestoga Valley, even Cedar Crest have shown signs they can take the next step.
Prediction: I got Ausel for the win, the team battle is going to be tight, but I'll go with AC
Deep Sleeper: Cedar Crest as a team may be mix it up better than expected

10/18 Lehigh Valley Conference
Kacyon and England are gone from outfront, leaving an interesting assembly of talent battling for the championship. The top returners Cole Campbell and Nate Palmer have both caught my attention as sleeper picks for the top 50 at multiple times this year. The team race should be tight as well, Nazareth still has fire power, but upstart Northampton has made a name for themselves behind Tyler Laubach out front.
Prediction: I've got Nazareth in a close one, with Campbell over Palmer
Deep Sleeper: Parkland

10/18 YAIAA Championships
Hasn't been a glamorous championship since the days of Greg Kareis, but it does feature two runners to watch: Matt Croft and Adam Katora. Their squads (Red Lion and Dallastown) should also contend for the title.
Prediction: Katora takes gold
Deep Sleeper: Susuquehannock

10/19 Berks County Championships
ET #13 Governor Mifflin looks to defend their title and looks to keep the gold medalist posistion in house as well (Logan Mohn won the title a year ago). Evan Williams (formerly ET ranked) is the favorite coming into the race, but his Mifflin teammate Levi Lang is the top returner from a year ago. 8 of the top 9 from last year have graduated so the race is going to look quite different.
Prediction: Williams and Mifflin take the title
Deep Sleers: David Peterson, Conrad Weiser

10/19 Ed Narkiewicz All-League Meet
Last year Reece Ayers tempoed or something and ended up being upset in stunning fashion by Frank Ferlanda, although Ayers and company went on to have the last laugh with the league championship and district championship later in the season (plus a pretty good finish at states). Tunkhannock looks strong again with Ben Robinson and Jake Seigel running well out front and experience behind them. Alex Zubko and Chris Ehert will look to help break up the Tunkhannock party and try and help Dallas break up the party.
Prediction: Tunkhannock wins behind a win for Seigel
Deep Sleeper: Tom Damiani from Tunkhannock

10/19 Moutain Athletic Conference
Features Zach Moon and Addison Monroe, a couple of guys dancing around the 50 mark on the rankings.
Prediction: I have Monroe taking the win here and Mifflin County surprising as a team.

10/19 Pioneer Athletic Conference
ET #31 Brett Kelly headlines the event and he looks to lead Boyertown back to the title. From my perspective, however, it looks like Methacton is going to take home the team championship while Pottsgrove has the potential to surprise. Ian Yakuso is a name to remember from the Pottsgrove squad.
Prediction: I want to go upset here, but I have Kelly taking the win with a great run expected from Joe O'Such from Spring Ford, definitley a name to watch in coming weeks.
Sleeper: Jesse Magolon, Spring Ford

10/19 Schuylkill Leage Championships
Prediction: ET #7 Brendan Shearn is under 16 minutes for the title.

10/20 Bicentennial League Championships
ET #14 Holy Ghost Prep led by ET #33 Zach Israel and Ryan Horgan start their push towards qualifying for the state championships with their league championship meet.
Prediction: Prep and Israel run away with the Golds
Deep Sleer: Christian Kardish from the Prep

10/20 Ches-mont Championships
ET#3 West Chester Henderson gets a chance to show what they got against ET#10 Great Valley, who is in need of a confidence boost. West Chester East also could step up into the mix with a good day. Plenty of big names in this race including Grab, Haugh, and Russell from the Henderson squad, the Willig's at Great Valley and Kenny Leidel from Downingtown West. Without Devlin the race may not be as fast, but it doesn't mean it won't be interesting out front. Willig needs a big race to prove himself and there are a lot of Henderson guys itching to prove themselves against a big name like Ned.
Prediction: Willig takes the title but Henderson does the real damage scoring under their impressive 25 point total from a year ago.
Deep Sleeper: Steve Iannocane from Unionville

10/20 Tri States
Last year eventual state champions North Alleghney were defeated in stunning fashion by Baldwin. Meanwhile the North Hills trio took 1-2-3 in a race that featured Wade Endress, Logan Steiner, Bobby Bishop and Alex Moran. This year Baldiwn is lead by a new front runner, Andrew Kutcha who will try to rally the team by competing for the victory out front. However, Baldwin is not amongst the teams to watch in this one, as ET#2 Mt. Lebanon takes on ET#4 North Allegheny. Alex Moran and Logan Steiner have both been disappointed by their seasons thus far, but can right the ship with a big win here at the Tri States meet. Another name to watch is Mike Runco from Pittsburgh Central Catholic who has been barely outkicked twice at big meets and settled for 2nd and his teams invite and 3rd at Carlisle. He can wipe those memories clean with a win here. If Altoona returns to the meet, Dylan Mountain and Korey Replogle will be huge factors in the front pack of the race, and their ET#15 ranked squad could also play a role. There are also many other ranked guys in the mix
Prediction: Assuming Altoona is not back I have NA surprising Mt. Lebo for the team title behind a surprise win from Logan Steiner. Moran takes second just barely ahead of Runco with Kutcha taking a hard fought 4th.
Deep Sleeper: Ryan Boccabella from Norwin

10/21 SOL American
ET#2 Drew Magaha looks to finally break 16 minutes on Lehigh's fast surface and will only have to deal with Upper Dublin's Francis Ferruzzi in his quest for Gold. Meanwhile Ferruzzi will try to help Upper Dublin upset the defending champions Wissahickon.
Prediction: Magaha takes the win with a very fast time, Wissahickon holds off Upper Dublin's hard fought race to take the team title.
Deep Sleeper: Cassidy Silverthorn, PW

10/21 SOL National
Council Rock North looks to defend their team title from a year ago behind Mac Emery and Ross Wilson and a host of other solid runners. Connor Harriman will look to break up the party.
Prediction: CR North rolls, but Harriman takes the title.
Deep Sleeper: Jon Hartsough, Abington
10/21 SOL Contintenal
This is a big chance for North Penn to show case its stuff, at this point last season they really took the next step into a top 10 program. Jack MacCauley will get to battle it out up front with the Hatboro duo of Hibbs and Quinn. Dan Davis will also look to throw his hat in the ring. Connor Linse from Souderton, Alex Kane and Alec Brand from CB East and Predhome and Berry will mix it up for the next few spots in a very deep league.
Prediction: Hibbs asserts himself after faltering in Delaware a few weeks back. MacCauley surprises Quinn for second and leads North Penn to the team title.
Deep Sleeper: CB East
10/22 Central Championships
Max Norris comes in as the top returner and a big favorite in this race. He is on almost everyone's top 10 list this season, and gets to prove himself after a disappointing 4th place finish a year ago. His teammate Pete Downs has had an up and down season thus far, but if this is an up day for him he should have a great finish. Strath Haven's Huemmler should also be in the mix after a break out DELCO performance last week, while Haverford should also have a few runners that mix it up with the top group. Penncrest is never a team to count out at the big meets and Pat Miller and Chris Kazanjian should also compete hard out front.
Prediction: Norris runs away from Haven's Huemmler, but Strath Haven takes down a closely contest team title bout with Haverford and Penncrest.
Deep Sleeper: The Smarts, Garnet Valley
10/22 PCL Championships
O'Hara and LaSalle will duel for PCL surpremecy as will their top runners Tom Coyle and Dan Savage. O'Hara certainly has a reputation to protect, but LaSalle is a team on the rise coming off a great finish at the Manhattan invite. Also in the mix are Chris Muldoon and Tim Flanagan as well as Owen Glatts and Colin Sawyer.
Prediction: O'Hara runs away with the gold, placing their top 5 in the top 10 for the second straight year, but Tom Coyle takes down Savage for gold.
Deep Sleeper: Andrew Stone, LaSalle