Local runners set their sights on PIAA Cross Country Championships
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LEWISTOWN -- Grant Yoder looked at last year’s District 6 cross country results and decided Belleville Christian School could compete.
The senior recruited some friends, many of them soccer players, for the school’s first cross country team. Three months later, the Thunder are district champions and headed to the PIAA Cross Country Championships on Saturday at Big Spring High School in Newville.
Belleville Christian joins Mifflin County and Juniata in representing the area at the state meet, which moves from Hershey’s Parkview course to Big Spring for the first time.
Mifflin County seniors Wyatt Kauffman and Hoyt Rodenbaugh will pursue state medals, while Juniata’s girls hope their first team appearance lays the groundwork for an even stronger season next year.
The three schools arrive with different expectations, but their coaches agree that the new course could influence how Saturday’s races unfold.
Belleville Christian
Belleville Christian coach Scott Falkner had a district championship in mind before his team ever ran its first race.
“That was kind of the goal,” Falkner said. “We looked at the results from last year, and I threw it at my incoming senior who ran track for me the last couple of years.”
That senior was Yoder, who helped assemble a team largely composed of soccer players.
“He recruited a bunch of buddies, and here we are,” Falkner said.
Several of those recruits played soccer, bringing their conditioning and competitive experience to the new program.
“It’s just amazing what they can do with a bunch of friends just pushing each other on and getting it done,” Falkner said.
The Thunder scored 62 points at districts, beating defending champion Marion Center by 22 as nearly every runner recorded a substantial personal best.
“They’ve been improving all season, and they just managed to put it all together on the same day,” he said.
Senior Collin Hartzler has emerged as one of the team’s strongest runners despite having no previous competitive cross country or track experience.
“He’s just improved leaps and bounds all season,” Falkner said. “He’s been our front runner for the last four or five meets.”
Ethan Renno delivered what Falkner previously described as an outstanding district performance, while Devin Yoder recorded a personal best.
The Thunder’s PIAA qualifying roster also lists Braxton Faulkner, Ethan Miller, Elijah Stoltzfus and Cade Yoder.
Balancing cross country with soccer has presented an unusual challenge. Falkner estimates his players cover four to six miles during soccer games, providing considerable conditioning despite limited opportunities for cross country-specific practices.
Falkner expects his team to finish somewhere near the middle of the state field, although another round of improved performances could produce a higher finish.
For Belleville Christian, a district championship and a trip to states in its first season have given future teams something to pursue.
### Juniata
Juniata coach Jeff Miller views Saturday’s championship as an opportunity for his young girls’ team to gain experience that could pay off next fall.
The Indians finished second behind Central Cambria in the District 6 Class 2A championship, scoring 119 points. The runner-up finish secured the program’s first girls’ team appearance at states.
Every runner on Juniata’s state roster is eligible to return next season, giving Miller reason to believe the program can continue improving.
“I don’t really have anybody that’s in state medal contention,” Miller said. “For them, it’s just try to have a good solid race and learn from it.”
Juniata’s PIAA qualifying roster lists Charlotte Barner, Darcy Griffiths, Carolyn Heidenreich, Juliet Heidenreich, Marissa Henry, Hannah Wirt, Hannah Zeiders and Ella Zimmerman.
Miller acknowledged that the gap between the team’s first and fifth runners remains an area needing improvement. That spread approached four minutes at districts, although strong performances from the leading runners helped secure second place.
Miller hopes competing against Pennsylvania’s best will motivate his younger runners to take summer training more seriously.
He reminded them of the satisfaction they experienced after qualifying at districts and encouraged them to remember that feeling when training becomes difficult.
Juniata also will be represented individually in the Class 2A boys’ race by juniors Josiah Barner and David Mayall-Marker.
Miller said both athletes have become considerably more serious about distance running and have made substantial progress by training alongside him.
“They have taken the sport a lot more serious,” Miller said.
He also described the increased focus he has seen in their training.
Mayall-Marker has dropped considerable time this season, while Barner has worked his way back from a stress fracture suffered during track season.
Neither has competed at states before. Miller believes the opportunity will provide valuable experience as both begin preparing for their senior seasons.
### Mifflin County
Kauffman and Rodenbaugh delivered outstanding performances at districts, where Kauffman placed fourth in 15:21.8 and Rodenbaugh finished sixth in 15:42.3.
According to coach Alex Monroe, those performances rank second and fourth, respectively, on Mifflin County’s all-time list.
“That kind of solidified where they’re at currently in their fitness,” Monroe said. “It’s just a matter of hanging on to it for one more weekend.”
The Huskies competed against an exceptional State College team at districts. Luke Bradbury won the individual championship in 14:38.7, while State College placed three runners among the first five finishers.
Monroe believes competing against such strong runners throughout the season has prepared his seniors for Saturday’s competition.
He believes both runners could finish between 10th and 15th with strong performances Saturday.
Monroe said the two athletes have different personalities and require different coaching approaches. In June, he challenged them to work more closely together and help bring out the best in each other.
“When you put them on the line together, they complement each other really well,” Monroe said.
After a season with its share of difficulties, the two had secured their places at states.
“And honestly, there’s relief now,” Monroe said. “I think qualifying is the most stressful part.”
Saturday’s goal is straightforward. Unlike regular-season races, where athletes might chase personal-best times, Monroe believes the state championship should be approached primarily in terms of finishing position.
“Ultimately, the success is determined on if we can bring home a medal,” he said.
### A different course
The move to Big Spring could give runners more room to maneuver, particularly during the opening mile.
Monroe admitted he preferred Hershey because of its demanding layout and long tradition as the state championship venue. However, Mifflin County has raced successfully at Big Spring.
Miller also knows the course, having taken his runners there for the Ben Blaser Invitational.
The wider opening section could reduce the consequences of a poor start, although positioning remains important in fields containing hundreds of runners.
“You still have to have a little bit of control, but you also can’t get funneled to the back,” Monroe said.
Juniata’s girls’ race at 10:15 a.m., followed by Belleville Christian’s boys at 11:45 a.m., Juniata’s boys at 12:30 p.m. and Mifflin County’s Kauffman and Rodenbaugh in the last race at 1:15 p.m.