**Keep in mind that it is only June and a lot can and will change. But these are my best guesses as of this point**
Key Returners: Dan Savage (Sr), Ernie Pitone (Sr), Chris Pastore (Sr), Kevin James (So), Nick Smart (Jr)*
Key Losses: Mike Bilotta
Notable Track Performances: Kevin James 4:29/9:40, Dan Savage 4:27y/9:30, Ernie Pitone 4:29/9:33, Chris Pastore 9:40, Jim Belfatto (Jr) 1:57/4:30, Jimmy Boyle (Sr) 1:59, Nick Smart 1:59
The O'Hara boys tied for the AAA team title in 2011 and came up short in the tie breaker, but O'Hara did finish the season as etrain's top team in the state due to their dominating performances in their previous meets. At states, unfortunately, their young 5th man Kevin James had a rare off day and O'Hara's lack of depth outside its top 5 showcased itself. The team returns three of their four runners who were in the top 50 at states last fall including last year's 4th place finisher Dan Savage. Returners Ernie Pitone and Dan Savage competed at both the indoor and outdoor state championships in the 3000m/3200m. Pastore and Savage ran sub 16 minute 5k marks in 2011. With the addition of Nick Smart (16:26 at Lehigh in 2011) from Garnet Valley, the team returns 3 guys with sub 2 minute open 800m marks. Smart is the only one who managed real XC success in 2011, but O'Hara has a good program and consistently churns out XC talent.
The strength of the Cardinal O'Hara squad the last two seasons has been pack running. They gang up together and feed off each others strengths to push themselves. Behind their consistent #1 Savage last season they had rotating order and great inter-squad competition. That is the recipe for success in cross country ask any coach. This season looks promising with a group of runners experienced in this system and this style of running. Kevin James has looked great as a freshman dropping a 9:40 3200m and a 4:29 1600m proving that he is ready to be a key contributor in 2012. Nick Smart is also a great addition which now gives them a solid harrier to round out their top 5.
I personally really liked the season Pitone had this past spring and he is my early pick as the sleeper on this team. I also think Kevin James is ready for a break out season. I project the top 5 looking something like this by season's end:
Savage (ET #7), Pitone (ET #28), Smart, James, Pastore
I see both Savage and Pitone being medalists in this new ramped down AAA field and I see O'Hara competing for the state championship once again. I'm not ready to call them champions, but they certainly are the most experienced team the favorite as of right now.
O'Hara will be fighting hard against the LaSalle boys in the PCL and District 12 Championships. As of now I expect O'Hara to take both of those titles relatively easily.
O'Hara Vs. Henderson *=Edge
ReplyDeleteDan Savage 4:27y/9:30 vs Reiny Barchet 4:26/9:28
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Kevin James 4:29/9:40 vs Bobby Rimkis 4:29/9:40
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Ernie Pitone 4:29/9:33 vs.Tony Russell 4:18/9:31
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Chris Pastore 9:40 vs. AJ Chaborek 9:40/4:22/ 1:50s low
*
Jim Belfatto (Jr) 1:57/4:30 vs. Seamus Collins 2:00/4:27 ive heard? can someone confirm? /9:40s
*
Jimmy Boyle (Sr) 1:59 vs Jason Hall 49. or 50 flat/ 2:00
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O'Hara's lack of depth vs. Eric Stratman 9:44/4:29
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O'Hara's lack of depth vs. Sam Haugh 15:50s xc last season
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Russell has also ran a 1:59 open at chesmonts
DeleteBelfatto 9:47
DeleteHaha when did chaborek ever run 1:50 low? His PR was a 1:54 high. And what does an 800 time have to do with xc
Deleteit was a mid 1:53 split from districts in the 4x8. And I don't know really, maybe to tell who will edge another person out in the kick. That's all I can think of. He's still performs well in the longer distances.
Deletethe 1:53 on top on a 4:22 and 9:40s just shows the versatility of the runner. keep in mind in chaboreks case both these races were earlier in the year, and towards the end of the year he focused on the 800
DeleteI believe it was Stratman at 9:47 and Collins at 9:44 I could be wrong though
ReplyDeletestratman is 9:47 and Collins is the 9:44. Collins split the 4:27 in the DMR at Colonial Relays and has run 2:00 a couple times. once open definitely
ReplyDeleteBelfatto 9:47
DeleteDan Savage 4:27y/9:30 vs Reiny Barchet 4:26/9:28 **
ReplyDeleteKevin James 4:29/9:40 v**s Bobby Rimkis 4:29/9:40
Ernie Pitone 4:29/9:33 vs.Tony Russell 4:18/9:31 **
Chris Pastore 9:40 vs. AJ Chaborek 9:40/4:22/ 1:50s low **
Jim Belfatto (Jr) 1:57/4:30 vs. Seamus Collins 2:00/4:27 ive heard? can someone confirm? /9:40s **
Jimmy Boyle (Sr) 1:59 v**s Jason Hall 49. or 50 flat/ 2:00
O'Hara's lack of depth vs. Eric Stratman 9:44/4:29 **
O'Hara's lack of depth vs. Sam Haugh 15:50s xc last season **
the hilly hershey course is a different kind of monster compared to track season, plus other teams focus training for xc
Deleteokay, in track Henderson's pr's definitely show that kind of dominance and in XC this battle between these two schools is going to be of epic proportions. But first things first, Reiny may edge out savage in these track races, but in XC Savage is much much more of a threat with a 15:32, that's 11 seconds faster than Russell's pr, but an entire team can't rest on just dan's shoulders. Which they don't of course, they've got Pastore with a 15:48 and james with a 15:58. But here's this, Reiny's freshman time was a 16:05. then later in the track season he ran a 9:52 pr for the 3200. Then he was injured and out all of last XC season as we all know. But it's not like he hasn't improved at all since then, his 3200 dropped down to a 9:27 in his first outdoor season back. This kid is definitely long distance based and will be head to head with Russell all season, those two pushing each other is only going to result in even faster times. But the true reason why I think Henderson is going to pull out the win is because Mr. Kelly is like a mastermind when it comes to his coaching. Do you think Russell would've ever thought in his freshman year when he sneaked into 7th on the team in the last 2 meets before states that the next year he'd drop a 50 second pr from an already great freshman time of a 16:33 to be the front man of such a blistering team? And sam haugh dropping from a 16:44 to a 15:58, and seamus collins dropping 47 seconds from a 17:01 to a 16:14 and so on and so forth, this team is just getting the engines ready.
DeleteSavage 4:23 split at penn relays, Pastore you can add a 4:26 (that was a split someone put on this blog) other than that O'Hara won JV Delco champs last year with no seniors, I don't think that's lack of depth just a really big gap between their top guys a JV.
ReplyDeleterussell ran a 4:21 in his first mile race in the indoor season, got injured at end, came back a month after outdoor started and runs a 4:24 literally walking pace the last 100 because he wasn't quite back into his old shape yet, then at districts runs a 4:18 if we're talking track then Henderson undoubtedly wins the debate. But this is XC, and Henderson's young guys haven't had much to be able to show themselves for. We won't actually know what this team is capable of until the season starts. i'm anxiously waiting
Deleteoh yeah, Henderson won the Ches-Mont championship last year without Russell or Barchet in the race. against GV, then GV went and got 2nd at the district 1 championships.
DeleteCan I see a comparison of the guys returning from each team (WCH and COH) 5k times from last year at states. I bet that Henderson doesn't look as good.
ReplyDeleteSavage-15:32 Russel-15:43
ReplyDeletePastore- 15:48 Haugh- 15:58
James-15:58 Barchet- 16:05 (frosh year)
Pitone-16:01 Collins- 16:14
Smart-16:26 Rimkis- 16:17
Noteable mentions:
WCH: Chaborek- 16:35(I think he had an off day at districts), Stratman- 16:50 (realizing potential)
O'Hara: Jim Belfatto- 17:10 (based of his track season and a 4:30 1600 he can probably go considerably faster), Drew Pastore- 17:19 (has some potential brewing. I can see him developing into a much faster runner under Ohara's program the next few years)
In the end, both teams ran on very fast courses against extremely good competition. The Great American XC festival may be faster than Lehigh however. Even then this matches up both teams very nicely. Gonna be a heck of a show
Savage 15:32 vs Russell 15:43
ReplyDeletePitone 15:44 vs Barchet 16:04 as freshman (injured 2011 xc)
Pastore 15:48 vs Haugh 15:58
James 15:58 vs Collins 16:14
Belfatto 17:10 vs Rimkiss 16:17
Boyle 18:00 vs Chaborek 16:35
..... vs Stratman 16:50
Ohara has faster times upfront but keep in mind their pr's come from the Great American Fest where they had their top five spread from 15:32 - 16:01. obviously a fast course when you look at their spread from district 12 championships of 16:04 - 16:58
^^ didnt notice this post above mine... hahah nice job other guy similar thoughts as i had
DeleteHahaha likewise
Delete2*. Cardinal O'Hara (12)
ReplyDelete2 Dan Savage, Jr 16:13 5:14
19 Ernie Pitone, Jr 16:39 5:22
25 Chris Pastore, Jr 16:51 5:26
79 Kevin James, Fr 17:44 5:43
Belfatto - 18:02.30 at Belmont Plateau PCL JV
Jim Boyle - 18:22.80 at Belmont Plateau PCL JV
Jack Nolen - 18:00.60 at Belmont Plateau PCL Frosh
Drew Pastore - 18:01.20 at Belmont Plateau PCL Frosh
Eric Goldhorn - 18:17.80 at Belmont Plateau PCL Frosh
5. Wc Henderson (1)
16 Tony Russell, So 16:37 5:21
23 Sam Haugh, So 16:50 5:26
46 Bobby Rimkis, Jr 17:15 5:34
98 Aj Chaborek, Jr 18:03 5:49
101 Seamus Collins, So 18:06 5:50
32 Reiny Barchet, Fr 17:07 5:31 (2010)
Eric Stratman - 16:50 at Chesmonts Varsity
Hall had nothing for 5k on milesplit.
Gordy Barchet - 17:22 at Chesmonts JV
Ricky Waltz - 17:43 at Chesmonts JV
Alex Drap - 17:53 at Chesmonts JV
I put in some extra freshman/sophomores for you too.
These are the last 5k times each runner ran, so each should have peaked at that time. Everyone who ran on Hershey at states in 2011 has that time showing. The other times I hame the meet and course for you.
DeleteGordy Barchet - 17:00 Districts
DeleteRicky Waltz - 17:09 Districts
Alex Drap 17:29 Districts
Thanks for those times, was this in the JV race?
DeleteHenderson JV -
DeleteGordy Barchet 17:00 Districts XC, 4:44
Ricky Waltz - 17:09 Districts XC, 4:39
Alex Drap - 17:29 Districts XC
Alex Knapp - 4:37
Kevin Moy - 4:33, 2:00
Zach Khattabi : 17:26
Jason Hall: 2:00
Thats a jv team
Jim belfatto: 17:10/ 4:30/1:57
DeleteJack Nolan :17:30/4:50
Drew pastore:17:19/4:49
Jim Boyle:18:00(Belmont) /4:48/1:57 split I believe
Christian Donnelly:18:00(Belmont)10:25
Nick smart(transferring over to coh) 16:26 1:59
COH jv team
r u saying that belfatto and smart arent making varisty? theres no way they'd be on JV
DeleteLast year that was their JV team except Smart who wasn't there.
Deletemy bad. Thanks for the clear up
DeleteI heard Henderson mite be running at briarwood ... If they are it will be a pre states Ohara vs Henderson show down
ReplyDeletenot to mention Shearn and other individuals.
Deleteas of now henderson plans on competing at briarwood, if henderson manages the edge out Ohara on their home course then i think their state chance drastically increases
Deletefor the record boys, when it comes to cross country ... it's not track ... there is potential for henderson to improve for sure (and I will get to that in my upcoming henderson team review) BUT O'Hara has one point away from winning states with a very similar team returning while Henderson has no state medalists on the roster ... but like I said, i'll get more in depth about this as we go
ReplyDeleteRussell and barchet were on the second place xc team so there's two medals
DeleteChaborek was on a state medalling dmr two years in a row and Russell and Collins were on it one year. Thats four state medalists. No individual medalist compared to oharas one individual in savage and their last years second place team.
fair point, i was talking about XC medals tho, missed the russell and barchet medals so that makes me wrong all the same
DeleteYou guys are comparing times on and easy course vs an easier course. O'hara ran those fast times on a very fast course. Henderson ran those times on a fast course as well. You need to compare them on courses that matter... aka hilly/hard/state-like course. Also, like etrain said, it's not track. Hall's 50/2 flat is nice and all when it comes to track, but that says nothing about cross country. O'Hara's distance team is filled with cross country runners, not really track runners, so just because they may not have as much track success as Henderson, that means nothing.
ReplyDelete-RTJ
THAT'S ALL WE HEARD LAST YEAR O'HARA O'HARA O'HARA AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED,SO PLEASE KEEP BUILDING THEM UP...........
ReplyDeleteEveryone keeps building up Henderson to etrain said he would make one of these posts for Henderson also so stop bitching cause there building them up equally
DeleteD1, what gives you the right to say that, also besides the state meet, what evidence do you have of them "choking." Etrain is simply stating his opinion on what HE thinks. Henderson got a post too so you can quit crying. If you don't like Etrain talking about Ohara or any team Xc, stay off the blog until track season.
Delete-CXC
But after bobby rimkis what happened to the rest of the Henderson team on the state course?
ReplyDeleteim not sure what u mean. Could u restate your question?
DeleteI'm saying as RTJ stated down there after there top three Henderson couldn't handle the state course
Deletehaha, it's probably not that they couldn't handle it like it was just too much for them because they've run on hard courses, but it was a day where the team kind of fell apart. they didn't have a single returner in the top 5 from the year before because reiny was injured, and russell came from 7th to first. The team was very in experienced before hand and it was a lot of there first times competing at that level, I believe their only varisty returners were Russell and Grab and maybe one other, besides that no one else ran on that course besides haugh his freshman year when he lived in horsham. a bad case of bad experience. not bad athletes.
DeleteAlright, let's be real. O'Hara was the dominate team in the state last year. Their freshman, Kevin James, had one bad race all season and they lost states. His first race ever was at the very same course and he ran 20 seconds faster. He had so much pressure on him and broke (he's a freshman, so that's not all that uncommon), so to say things like, "THAT'S ALL WE HEARD LAST YEAR O'HARA O'HARA O'HARA AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED,SO PLEASE KEEP BUILDING THEM UP...........," makes it seem like they just sucked last year. He had one off day and they lost states. At the end of the day, everyone still knew O'Hara was the dominate team in the state. I don't mean to knock on NP, it's great that they won, but I'm just making it clear that O'Hara lost for one reason and one reason only.
ReplyDelete^ To the post above, he's saying that after the top three, Henderson can't handle the states course.
-RTJ
I don't think "O'HARA O'HARA O'HARA" kid meant that they sucked all last year, I believe he was implying that as good as they were, they choked when the time came for them to claim their (arguably) rightful title as the best team in the state. And I would agree with him: You can build them up as much as you want right now, but the fact is we can't just assume they'll take the title especially after their failure last year and their average track season.
ReplyDeletei think we just just move on with the henderson article because both of these teams are in a league of their own in the state when you write them out on paper. This is great to have such interest in the season this far away from the first race even. perhaps both teams choke at states and some random team wins it but we dont know.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the first part, but I hope neither team chokes, I want to be there and watch the waves of henderson maroon and O'Hara white and blue battle it out. Both teams are going to have to work much harder than before to beat the other
Deletewell boys I don't think anyone picked North Penn to win last year or to even medal right before the state meet so for sure anything can happen
ReplyDeletewe should consider moving these conversations to track talk, i feel like it is a more easily readable forum
can't wait to see these two teams battle it out. I think North Penn and CRN can be dangerous as well and might sneak in to medal....
ReplyDeleteIm sorry but can someone please explain to me why everyone thinks NP will be a big factor? Losing trimble and Davis is a big hit and besides McCauley they dont really have too much else. yeah 2 guys at 16:40 but besides that theres no one under 17....
DeleteNP always has guys come out of nowhere. They're a huge school. They have Grace, Molloy, and Hill all returning as well, all ran under 17 at districts, so not sure what you mean by one else under 17. And their 7th man at districts ran 17:07 and he's returning. 52 Ryan Grace, So 16:40 5:23
Delete53 Matt Molloy, So 16:40 5:23
81 Hunter Hill 16:55 5:27
111 Tyler Johnston, So 17:07 5:31
NP will be still be a very top notch team next year
He was saying at Hershey, are they running at Briarwood again?
DeleteActually I did not mean States. However, I just looked at the past results...funny coincidence. I actually meant NP's returners. You're right about the other sub 17 runner (Hill). I must've missed him so I apologize for that. But it's just that there are other teams with equally quick runners that have matching depth. Look at Mnt. Leb, N. Allegheny, Great Valley, Cumberland Valley, and Pennsbury (arguable) (LaSalle would be in the conversation but I think OHara will win out their district). These teams have great up front runners and some depth to back it up. I do not mean in any way, shape, or form, that NP is a bad team and I am NOT saying they don't have talent (because they do). But in the end, I personally do not see them being a major factor compared to some teams.
DeleteI understand where you're coming from, I think if everything pans out correctly for teams (no injuries ect.)that this could be one of if not the fastest Hershey state meet to date.
DeleteVery good point with Mnt. Lebo, they're returning 4-7 and it's a tight pack, does anybody know about their JV team? if they have another guy in that pack they too could be dangerous.
But whatever team wins everyone needs to be sub 17 at states and have one or two medalists
O'Hara didn't even choke, it's just one of their runner had a bad day. I see your point though. CRN will be dangerous this year, very dangerous.
ReplyDelete-RTJ
I agree. CRN can be a sleeper. They have the big 3. If 4-7 can step up, they are dangerous. NP has depth. I think grace, malloy, hill, johnson and stauring will push each other to close the gap on mccauley.
Deletebut there big three can't contend with O'hara or Henderson's top 3 people, Emery is really the only one who could place in front of any of them on their good days. Besides that, the #2 and 3 runners, being very competitive as individuals, aren't anywhere near enough to put their team as a whole into the state top 3 places, expect those three to make a lot of noise on the track though.
DeleteCRN will have the best 3 of any team finishing at the state meet. That's almost no contest. As etrain said above it'll be about their 4/5 guys
DeleteHow so? Emery is the only one that could beat Russell last year on that team, Zingarini matched him with a 4:18 and is 20 seconds slower in the 3200, I don't believe he or Ross was anywhere near Russell at states. Then you also have Sam haugh who has better pr's than those 2 in XC now with Barchet back this top three is much better. on the CRN post Etrain states Ross added a sub 16 5k, on the track, which is no where near as much of a challenge as it is in XC. You have russell with a 15:43, Haugh with a 15:58, and Barchet who as a freshman was only 5 seconds away, he could've been a sub 16 by only having a better start. CRN's top three fall short to Henderson's and O'haras... Oh yeah, O'hara has savage with a 15:32, pitone with a 15:44, pastore with a 15:48, and James with a 15:58. Yes it was on probably the fastest course any PA teams race on but it's more of a challenge then track. CRN just doesn't have the XC squad that they need to contend with these 2 teams, as individuals they will perform great, but not to the standard of O'hara or Henderson. with the exception of Emery of course.
DeleteCRN has always been an almost pure XC team. Winning 9 titles Since 1987, but yet their track teams never performed well. The fact of Emery running a 9:11 is huge for CRN and it puts him in front of footlocker finalists both Chris Campbell and Keith Capecci (4th and 2nd at states respectively) so the promise is overwhelming there. Mac should compete with Savage if not beat him at the state meet. To continue that trend Wilson’s time is also very important to look at since he doesn’t run winter (plays basketball). He was only on a few weeks of training when Pitone beat him by 5 seconds, Savage by 12, at the Kiwanis Invitational 5k that says a lot. Wilson is a lock to beat Pitone. Zingarini and Wilson are training partners Wilson has more endurance strength but Zingarini’s kick keeps them in close proximity and they’ll finish like the have the past 2 years at states, within 5 of each other. Here’s the list in order of the Henderson, O’Hara, and CRN in my opinion for the top 3 runners.
DeleteEmery/Savage (both in the top 7 if not top 5)
Russell (10-12)
Wilson (15)
Barchet (16)
Zingarini (17)
Pitone (20)
Haugh (27)
Pastore (31)
Maybe I'm banking too much on Haugh coming back strong, but Keller is a very good coach for Henderson so I believe he'll be ready.
Kelly* not Keller, and What is Wilson's pr on an xc course? because if it wasn't under 16 minutes then he isn't close to Barchet and Russell at all, I believe Haugh is going to drop a substantial Pr at districts to put him in the 15:40's, a sub 16 on the track does not convert to a sub 16 on an xc course whether it's at Lehigh or the Great American XC Festival. When it comes to XC the team hasn't shown themselves to have the best top 3. On the track Emery and Zingarini performed well beating Russell in the mile and Barchet 3200, but Russell is more versatile then many runners having times of 1:59 in the 800, 4:18 in the mile, a 9:31 for his first and only 3200, and a 6th place finish at districts for XC in a 15:43 flat, he had the fastest time in the state for a sophomore. I'm not saying in any way he's faster than Brent Kennedy when it comes to XC because Brent placed in the top 10 last year, but with Reiny's freshman 16:05 from which he improved immensely, and Russell's 15:43, and even Sam's 15:58, then CRN doesn't have the type of strength to keep up with them, besides Emery who will probably be faster than them. Now onto O'hara, I don't even need to go in depth for there top 3, Savage with a 15:32, pitone 15:44, Pastore 15:48.
DeleteWilson went 16:08 during xc
Deletethat's still a great time but Henderson and O'Hara just have stacked teams this coming season. With Henderson being 10 times better than now in the next season in 2013
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, I'm a D1 guy, I love Lehigh but when it comes down to out throw out the fast times of Lehigh when you are trying to pick a STATE favorite ... yeah they are all great but here is a stat for ya, the 2011 XC State Championships at Hershey:
ReplyDeleteTony Russell 16:37
Ross Wilson 16:40
James Zingarini 16:45
Sam Haugh 16:50
Mac Emery 16:54
The rest of Henderson: Back 20+ seconds back
And not to mension how sick Emery was, obviously with the 9:11 we know he can be close to 16 at states next year. Running fast on a fast course doesn't translate to running fast on a hilly course.
Delete