So I haven't watched the PenntrackXC show, is it any good? I haven't been able to bring myself to invest that much time in it to see if it is worth picking up some info that I don't already know or haven't heard from you kids out there. Let me know what you guys think of it so I can deduce how worth watching it is.
This weekend, I am, admittedly, not expecting to see too many big results, but I am intrigued to see how some races will play out. First off in Delaware, North Penn should make its very first big meet appearance since Briarwood. North Penn is the defending state champions, however, their squad has been off of everyone's radar in the past month or so and has dropped off my top 10 team list and has almost dropped off of my state qualifiers list right now as well (I've tentatively got WCH, CRN, PB, NP, WCE in that order for Districts right now). Jack Macauley's lack of racing on the big stage and a dual meet loss to Chris Berry have brought into question where exactly North Penn is at right now. But this group can not be underestimated. We saw what happened last year when we did. It will be up to Macauley and company to prove themselves in Delaware and gain valuable confidence before championship season.
Meanwhile, another defending state champion should toe the line at Salesianum, Conner Quinn of Hatboro Horsham. He has had a bit of a rough transition period running without stud training partner Sam Hibbs, but Quinn is still a gold medalist at XC on the most important course in the state. He should hopefully bounce back on the hills and go after a fast time.
Allegedly, CRN is also going to Delaware this weekend (they normally go to Steel City). This would be a big test for CRN and Mac Emery who would get a shot at his District One two mile rivals on a tough set of hills, an excellent opportunity to prove himself as a trail runner. CRN is one of my teams to watch in the coming month as I do anticipate an increase in their race performance in the coming weeks. Maybe I should jump off the bandwagon but I have a hard time letting go. Look at my posts about NP last year ... right when I gave up on them, they won states. What are you gonna do.
Huemmler against the O'Hara boys at DELCO. I honestly could see him taking them all down or losing to 4-6 of them. Should be interesting. Haverford and Penncrest each have two big guns who will look to prove themselves against the O'Hara juggernaut as well.
Don't worry I didn't forget about you west coast boys. PCC Invite should be very interesting as we will see guys like DiSilvio out front, trying to carry the momentum from a killer Foundation meet race against the likes of teams like Mt. Lebanon and possibly North Allegheny. Fox Chase may be back again as well, it would be our first view of Ethan Martin since his big 2nd place finish at Red, White and Blue. The Archer twins are also posed for a chance at big win along with A competitor Hunter Johnston. Luke Schott and Jon Faye are a couple guys you don't want to forget about in a race like this as they have potential to surprise out front. Deep sleeper looks like Andy Haky leading the charge for the home team at their home invite. Ryan McGuire is also a name to remember in the B race (assuming he doesn't switch into the A).
Huemmler had a break out season last year and it started at DELCO's. He came from 6th or 7th place with less than 1/2 mile to go to within one second of winning it. He consistenly beat the O'Hara boys after that on the track.
ReplyDeleteThis is one meet where O'hara's pack running might hurt their chances for the individual winner if no one really pushes the pace. I can see Heummler hanging right behind them and pulling away in the last 1/2 for a 5-10 second victory.
i think huemmler will lose to oharas top 3 cause i think they learned from their mistke lastyear of going out to slow and i think savage james and pitone have learned how to take an xc race out so thats just my opinon
ReplyDeleteI believe in huemmler. In track, his kick proved to be better than any runner from O'hara. Last year at Delcos, he nearly won when it looked like he had no chance.
DeleteGood call on O'hara's top 3. They took it out fast, around 5:00 first mile. Nobody followed after that.
Deletethey went out alot faster than 5 minutes
DeleteMaybe 4:57
Deletemore like mid-high 4:40s
Deletenah, I was there and they made the last turn before the mile at 4:48 and the mile marker was at least 40 yards from that point. 5:03 tops.
DeleteI was at the mile mark and had savage James pitone and huemmler come through the mile at 4:45 and so did everyone else there so it seemed that the Ohara boys tryed takin him out hard to try to tire him out
DeleteI had them at 10:18 at the two mile so that's quite a slow down if it was a 4:45 opening. Even with the hill before the two mile mark making mile two slower, that 4:45 1st mile seems a bit fast.
DeleteThey did drop Huemmler and anyone else with thoughts of shouldering them right after the mile though. It was very impressive.
They we were like 10:00 at the two mile we at least savage and James were
Delete10:00 at the duece doesn't add up. That would mean about a slow 5:22ish final mile. Out of the horseshoe, Savage had a nice kick to pull away from James, (who is likely a future DELCO champ).
DeletePennsbury and Lasalle at Shore Coaches invite in new jersey @ holmdel
ReplyDeleteAgainst CBA and a couple of other good NJ teams, should be interesting
DeleteLaSalle has their top 5 together for the first time this season. Holmdel will be an interesting test.
DeleteHarriman wins at Holmdel 16:11
DeleteLasalle College looked impressive on a very tough Holmdel course at Shore coaches Invite (NJ).
Delete3 of CRN's varsity runners are taking the SAT's this weekend, so they decided to bag the Salesianum invite and will run Steel City instead and some other guys might take the weekend off. Don't look for anything big.
ReplyDeleteAlso Mac just beat Chris Campbell time and almost got Keith Capecci's course record @ Their home invite this weekend. And Wilson took 2nd after coming off a cold. 2 soph's broke 17 which only state medalists have done in the past other than Mac who was sick at states last year.
-- ForrestCRN
Huemmler knows the Rose Tree course like the back of his hand. The O'hara boys have never been a match for Huemmler on his true stage: the track. I think that Huemmler has found his stage in XC as well, and that stage is RTP. I look forward to a big kick from Jack, as well as a phenomenal track season
ReplyDeleteThe Ohara boys practice at rosetree every day during the Summer and usually have success at rosetree but lastyear they happened just not to have a good day
ReplyDeleteHopefully the Haverford and Penncrest boys help Huemmler break up that O'Hara pack. The kid from Bonner could be a factor too. Bonner has more individual Delco champions than any other team.
ReplyDeleteLuke Schott is the man.
ReplyDeleteO'Hara destroyed again. The took the top four by a lot.
ReplyDeleteLasalle high wins championship race at shore coaches over nationally ranked Northport and wallkill valley. Pennsbury takes 8th with Harriman winning the race in 16:11 on a very difficult course
ReplyDeleteMcCauley ran 4th all time best at Salesianum. Have they changed that course to make it easier? If not, that is an impressive time.
ReplyDeleteThe course is a bit hillier
ReplyDeleteThe course is a BIT hillier
ReplyDelete