Tri State
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Pelliccioni completes come-from-behind win
Wheeling Park edges Jefferson by four points to defend team title
By Kevin Spradlin
TriStateRunnur.com
ONA, W.Va. – Morgantown standout distance runner Cody Pelliccioni might not have been truly aware of what he was doing. He is, after all, just a sophomore.
Fact is, he did it anyway. And all “it” refers to is beating the top-ranked runner in West Virginia’s Class AAA standings – Jefferson senior Cory Hampshire – and the other 86 runners in the state championship meet on Saturday at Cabell Midland High School.
“I wanted to win,” said Pelliccioni, who finished in 15 minutes and 57 seconds – a mere 4.12 seconds off the course record of 15:52.48 set at this year’s GEICO Classic by North Marion’s Zach Tennant. “I didn’t know if I could or not Of course, I’m happy I did.”
It was anything but easy. In fact, for the first mile-plus, it seemed Hampshire had the race all but gift-wrapped. The red-headed senior passed the 1-mile mark in 5:12. Everyone else was behind him.
However, things quickly began to go wrong for Hampshire. He couldn’t find a groove.
“I just didn’t get rolling,” Hampshire said.
Hampshire might have been disappointed in his performance – he was, after all, the pre-race favorite to win. But Jefferson coach Scott Biola wasn’t disappointed at all.
“I’m proud of him,” Biola said of his front-running senior. “In the lead, it’s tough. He did a lot of the work.”
Fairmont Senior David Ciarolla was third in 16:14, four seconds behind Hampshire. Seeded seventh, Wheeling Park’s Kyle Gramlich placed fourth overall in 16:27 to lead his team to the top of the standings.
Two of Gramlich’s teammates finished together and inside the top eight – Logan Wojcik (7th, 16:40) and Russell Mulley (8th, 16:50). Senior Jason Bennett placed 33rd in 17:58 and Kevin Busick placed 38th in 18:04 and rounded out the team’s scoring five.
Jefferson – led by Hampshire and sophomore Brand Doughty’s 10th-place finish in 16:52 – was second with 71 points. Host Cabell Midland was third with 93 points and Preston was fourth with 121 points in the 11-team field.
Contact Kevin Spradlin at run@mountainMDmarathon.org.
Wheeling Park edges Jefferson by four points to defend team title
By Kevin Spradlin
TriStateRunnur.com
ONA, W.Va. – Morgantown standout distance runner Cody Pelliccioni might not have been truly aware of what he was doing. He is, after all, just a sophomore.
Fact is, he did it anyway. And all “it” refers to is beating the top-ranked runner in West Virginia’s Class AAA standings – Jefferson senior Cory Hampshire – and the other 86 runners in the state championship meet on Saturday at Cabell Midland High School.
“I wanted to win,” said Pelliccioni, who finished in 15 minutes and 57 seconds – a mere 4.12 seconds off the course record of 15:52.48 set at this year’s GEICO Classic by North Marion’s Zach Tennant. “I didn’t know if I could or not Of course, I’m happy I did.”
It was anything but easy. In fact, for the first mile-plus, it seemed Hampshire had the race all but gift-wrapped. The red-headed senior passed the 1-mile mark in 5:12. Everyone else was behind him.
However, things quickly began to go wrong for Hampshire. He couldn’t find a groove.
“I just didn’t get rolling,” Hampshire said.
Hampshire might have been disappointed in his performance – he was, after all, the pre-race favorite to win. But Jefferson coach Scott Biola wasn’t disappointed at all.
“I’m proud of him,” Biola said of his front-running senior. “In the lead, it’s tough. He did a lot of the work.”
Fairmont Senior David Ciarolla was third in 16:14, four seconds behind Hampshire. Seeded seventh, Wheeling Park’s Kyle Gramlich placed fourth overall in 16:27 to lead his team to the top of the standings.
Two of Gramlich’s teammates finished together and inside the top eight – Logan Wojcik (7th, 16:40) and Russell Mulley (8th, 16:50). Senior Jason Bennett placed 33rd in 17:58 and Kevin Busick placed 38th in 18:04 and rounded out the team’s scoring five.
Jefferson – led by Hampshire and sophomore Brand Doughty’s 10th-place finish in 16:52 – was second with 71 points. Host Cabell Midland was third with 93 points and Preston was fourth with 121 points in the 11-team field.
Contact Kevin Spradlin at run@mountainMDmarathon.org.
Propst pulls out comeback win in record-setting fashion
University wins second straight team crown
By Kevin Spradlin
TriStateRunnur.com
ONA, W.Va. – You could hardly attribute Ari Kasprowicz’s meltdown to human error.
Unfortunately for Kasprowicz, what happened to her on Saturday at the Class AAA state cross country championship meet was all too human.
Unable to fight back stomach problems, Kasprowicz, who held a lead of more than 30 meters with little more than a half-mile to go in the 5,000-meter race, faded to an admirable third under less-than-desirable circumstances.
Sophomore Letitia Propst, of Elkins, came from a distant third a the 2-mile point to win in a course-record time of 18 minutes and 29 seconds. Propst held the previous course standard, set last year, of 18:48.85.
Wheeling Park senior Courtney Yeager, who had strained to hang with Kasprowicz from the sound of the starter’s pistol, was second in 18:31. Kasprowicz was third in 18:41 and Hurricane junior Alex Dent was fourth in 19:13.
Propst won. There’s no doubt about that. And Yeager finished a clean, hard-fought second. But for Kasprowicz, it was her race to lose. As expected, the Preston senior, ranked No. 2 by RunWV.com in the AAA standings heading into Saturday’s competition, jumped to the front.
Kasprowicz, clad in a skin-tight silver-and-white uniform, jumped to the lead early – as expected. She cruised through the 1-mile point unhurried by the competition. The other 91 runners in the field were, by then, too far back to be a concern. Ditto for the 2-mile mark, although the Patriots’ Yeager was hanging a consistent several seconds back.
About 1,000 meters from the finish line – past tent city – announcer Pat Riley noted Kasprowicz still held a lead of at least 30 meters. Yeager was second. Propst was closing in on second.
And then it happened. And Elkins coaches Shellie Burda and Matt Lewis started shouting. And Propst ran faster.
“I just listened to my coaches screaming,” Propst said. “I thought I was going to get third, for sure.”
The sophomore was not to be denied. Pulling from deep within, she somehow found the energy to pass Yeager as if she weren’t there. Suddenly, there was Kasprowicz – the same runner who beat her by 16.6 seconds on Oct. 15 at the NCAC championships.
“I went out there … and gave it my all,” Kasprowicz said. “Those girls raced awesome.”
Yeager, for her part, was pleased with the outcome. Seeded fourth, her second-place finish was a bit unexpected but, by all accounts, well-deserved.
Propst and Kasprowicz helped lead her to “the PR of my life,” she said, embracing Propst shortly after crossing the finish line. “I stayed with (Kasprowicz) as long as I could. I knew (Propst) had to be reckoned with.”
University won its second straight AAA team title with 81 points. Challenger Hurricane was second with 93 points and Preston was third with 102 points, followed by Morgantown (111) and Jefferson (136).
Contact Kevin Spradlin at run@mountainMDmarathon.org.
University wins second straight team crown
By Kevin Spradlin
TriStateRunnur.com
ONA, W.Va. – You could hardly attribute Ari Kasprowicz’s meltdown to human error.
Unfortunately for Kasprowicz, what happened to her on Saturday at the Class AAA state cross country championship meet was all too human.
Unable to fight back stomach problems, Kasprowicz, who held a lead of more than 30 meters with little more than a half-mile to go in the 5,000-meter race, faded to an admirable third under less-than-desirable circumstances.
Sophomore Letitia Propst, of Elkins, came from a distant third a the 2-mile point to win in a course-record time of 18 minutes and 29 seconds. Propst held the previous course standard, set last year, of 18:48.85.
Wheeling Park senior Courtney Yeager, who had strained to hang with Kasprowicz from the sound of the starter’s pistol, was second in 18:31. Kasprowicz was third in 18:41 and Hurricane junior Alex Dent was fourth in 19:13.
Propst won. There’s no doubt about that. And Yeager finished a clean, hard-fought second. But for Kasprowicz, it was her race to lose. As expected, the Preston senior, ranked No. 2 by RunWV.com in the AAA standings heading into Saturday’s competition, jumped to the front.
Kasprowicz, clad in a skin-tight silver-and-white uniform, jumped to the lead early – as expected. She cruised through the 1-mile point unhurried by the competition. The other 91 runners in the field were, by then, too far back to be a concern. Ditto for the 2-mile mark, although the Patriots’ Yeager was hanging a consistent several seconds back.
About 1,000 meters from the finish line – past tent city – announcer Pat Riley noted Kasprowicz still held a lead of at least 30 meters. Yeager was second. Propst was closing in on second.
And then it happened. And Elkins coaches Shellie Burda and Matt Lewis started shouting. And Propst ran faster.
“I just listened to my coaches screaming,” Propst said. “I thought I was going to get third, for sure.”
The sophomore was not to be denied. Pulling from deep within, she somehow found the energy to pass Yeager as if she weren’t there. Suddenly, there was Kasprowicz – the same runner who beat her by 16.6 seconds on Oct. 15 at the NCAC championships.
“I went out there … and gave it my all,” Kasprowicz said. “Those girls raced awesome.”
Yeager, for her part, was pleased with the outcome. Seeded fourth, her second-place finish was a bit unexpected but, by all accounts, well-deserved.
Propst and Kasprowicz helped lead her to “the PR of my life,” she said, embracing Propst shortly after crossing the finish line. “I stayed with (Kasprowicz) as long as I could. I knew (Propst) had to be reckoned with.”
University won its second straight AAA team title with 81 points. Challenger Hurricane was second with 93 points and Preston was third with 102 points, followed by Morgantown (111) and Jefferson (136).
Contact Kevin Spradlin at run@mountainMDmarathon.org.
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Letitia Propst
Courtney Yaeger
Battle of the Potomac
West Virginia athletes are invited to register and race under TEAM VA
GROUP INCENTIVE*
November 15, 2008 - Smokey Glen Farm - Gaithersburg MD
*FREE Chicken Dinner and Gas Card ($50) to the first 10 groups who
sign up 10 or more athletes for XC BORDER WAR 3.
*Top 5 finishers in boys and girls seeded races earn invitations to
NXN Southeast Regional on 11-29 More Information
2007 Race Page
West Virginia athletes are invited to register and race under TEAM VA
GROUP INCENTIVE*
November 15, 2008 - Smokey Glen Farm - Gaithersburg MD
*FREE Chicken Dinner and Gas Card ($50) to the first 10 groups who
sign up 10 or more athletes for XC BORDER WAR 3.
*Top 5 finishers in boys and girls seeded races earn invitations to
NXN Southeast Regional on 11-29 More Information
2007 Race Page
Cody Pelliccioni
Cory Hampshire
Results AAA Boys AAA Girls AA-A Boys AA-A Girls Combined Results Boys Girls
A-AA Race Page AAA Race Page Loads of Photos and Video coming up
Photos - Boys A-AA Boys AAA Girls A-AA Girls AAA
Boys & Girls AAA Boys & Girls AAA Boys AA-A Girls A-AA Boys AAA Girls AAA
Awards Introduction Boys A-AA Awards Girls A-AA Awards Girls AAA Awards Boys AAA Awards
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