Big Valley Invitational tests Huskies, Indians, reveals young talent
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REEDSVILLE--The Mifflin County boys cross country team left the Big Valley Invitational with third place in Class 3A with 78 points and a coach who wasn't interested in dressing it up.
"We had a tough day at the office," Alex Monroe said. "I could make a list of reasons why we faltered today, but I don't think that does anyone any good. They have had their fair share of disappointments in the sport; it just stings to have it happen at home."
The numbers still gave Mifflin County plenty to work with.
Wyatt Kauffman led the Huskies in eighth place in AAA with a time of 16:27 and finished ninth overall across all classifications. Hoyt Rodenbaugh followed in 11th in 3A at 16:45 and was 13th overall.
Monroe said the disappointment hurt more at home, but he expressed confidence in his leading seniors.
"The good news is Wyatt and Hoyt are two of the most resilient athletes I've coached," he said. "They will be back."
Koy Aurand came through 18th in 17:33. David Snyder placed 20th in 17:41. Sophomore Craig Whitenight was one spot behind Snyder in 17:46.
That put all five Mifflin County scorers among the first 21 AAA finishers. The Huskies' third through fifth runners crossed within 13 seconds, allowing Mifflin County to hold off Hollidaysburg for third.
Aidan Scavitti finished 27th in 18:14. Camryn Treaster completed the varsity seven in 29th with an 18:40.
Monroe found encouragement in the middle of the lineup.
"Sophomore Craig Whitenight was phenomenal out there and stepped up huge for us," Monroe said. "David Snyder also showed up, and I continue to see a lot of growth from him every time he toes the line."
Mifflin County's girls produced a different kind of afternoon. The Huskies placed fifth in AAA with 112 points, and their first three finishers were freshmen.
Elissa Bell led the way with a 20:26, good for 12th in AAA and 17th overall. Esperanza Bargas followed in 17th at 20:42. Daliyah Bargas took 19th in 21:02.
For Esperanza and Daliyah, it was their first high school cross country 5K.
"Bell was a great leader and took Espie along with her," Mifflin County coach Kristin Kauffman said. "The top group of girls have embraced packing up and working together as a team."
Senior Liberty Cook finished 25th in 21:49. Abigail Anderson placed 39th in 23:16.
Jovie Kauffman took 40th in 23:25, while Madalyn Yoder completed the varsity seven in 42nd with a 23:51.
Kauffman said Bell tends to make her strongest move during the second mile and still has enough left for a strong finish. She sees the same sustained effort in practice.
"I couldn't be more proud of the girls’ team," Kauffman said. "I reminded them they could control two things today: implementing the plan and putting forth consistent effort. They did both!"
Juniata's girls matched Mifflin County's boys for the best local team placement, finishing third in AA with 90 points.
Carolyn Heidenreich led the Indians in seventh place in 21:36. Hannah Zeiders followed only four seconds later, taking eighth in 21:40.
Freshman Hannah Wirt finished 13th in 22:20 in her first high school invitational. Juliet Heidenreich also made her invitational debut and placed 24th in 24:37.
Charlotte Barner finished 38th in 26:28, while Erendira Martinez-Ramirez placed 45th in 27:15. Marissa Henry completed Juniata's varsity lineup in 46th with a 27:37.
Wirt, Juliet Heidenreich, Barner and Henry were all running their first high school cross country invitational.
"I thought our girls’ varsity team ran great today," Juniata coach Jeff Miller said. "They all ran competitively and came away satisfied with their race. It was a good test to see where everyone's fitness level is at."
Juniata's boys finished sixth in AA with 141 points, but Miller came away encouraged by several individual performances.
"I thought the boys’ varsity team ran very close to what I expected," Miller said.
Josiah Barner led the Indians with an 11th-place finish in 17:46. Miller had hoped Barner could reach that time and believes the junior can turn Saturday's performance into something larger later in the fall.
"If everything goes as planned, he will be in contention at the end of the season to have a good shot at making it to states," Miller said.
David Mayall-Marker finished 16th in 18:18, a personal best. Miller said Mayall-Marker has made significant improvement over the past year.
Coy Kerstetter placed 34th in 19:36, and Joel Hardin was 38th in 19:50. Both are seniors.
Matthew Corman took 42nd in 20:08 in his first high school invitational. Elliott Miller, also making his invitational debut, was 47th in 21:11.
Luke Weiand finished 54th in 22:39. Miller said Weiand entered the meet with only three weeks of running behind him and should continue gaining fitness.
For four local teams, the Big Valley Invitational offered different measurements in September.
Mifflin County's boys found standards they still want to reach. Its girls found freshmen already willing to run together. Juniata's girls put themselves near the top of the AA standings despite an inexperienced lineup.
And Barner left Juniata with something more personal: a September time that has his coach already thinking about the state meet.
BIG VALLEY INVITATIONAL
Boys AAA
Team standings: 1. State College 28; 2. University High 46; 3. Mifflin County 78; 4. Hollidaysburg 101; 5. Altoona Area 111; 6. Shikellamy 185; 7. DuBois Area 194.
Mifflin County: 8. Wyatt Kauffman, 16:27; 11. Hoyt Rodenbaugh, 16:45; 18. Koy Aurand, 17:33; 20. David Snyder, 17:41; 21. Craig Whitenight, 17:46; 27. Aidan Scavitti, 18:14; 29. Camryn Treaster, 18:40.
Girls AAA
Team standings: 1. State College 34; 2. University High 66; 3. Altoona Area 70; 4. Hollidaysburg 103; 5. Mifflin County 112; 6. DuBois Area 135; 7. Shikellamy 189.
Mifflin County: 12. Elissa Bell, 20:26; 17. Esperanza Bargas, 20:42; 19. Daliyah Bargas, 21:02; 25. Liberty Cook, 21:49; 39. Abigail Anderson, 23:16; 40. Jovie Kauffman, 23:25; 42. Madalyn Yoder, 23:51.
Boys AA
Team standings: 1. Lewisburg 58; 2. Bellefonte 84; 3. Forest Hills 90; 4. Punxsutawney 93; 5. East Pennsboro 129; 6. Juniata 141; 7. Tyrone 153; 8. Philipsburg-Osceola 263.
Juniata: 11. Josiah Barner, 17:46; 16. David Mayall-Marker, 18:18; 34. Coy Kerstetter, 19:36; 38. Joel Hardin, 19:50; 42. Matthew Corman, 20:08; 47. Elliott Miller, 21:11; 54. Luke Weiand, 22:39.
Girls AA
Team standings: 1. Lewisburg 56; 2. East Pennsboro 61; 3. Juniata 90; 4. Forest Hills 107; 5. Bedford 114; 6. Tyrone 137.
Juniata: 7. Carolyn Heidenreich, 21:36; 8. Hannah Zeiders, 21:40; 13. Hannah Wirt, 22:20; 24. Juliet Heidenreich, 24:37; 38. Charlotte Barner, 26:28; 45. Erendira Martinez-Ramir, 27:15; 46. Marissa Henry, 27:37.