KNOX, Pa. (D9Sports) – Setting the course record in 18:34.4, Clarion’s Nathaniel Lerch took home the KSAC Boys’ Cross Country Invitational Title Thursday at Keystone.
(Photo: The girls’ medal winners at the 2017 KSAC Cross Country Championships. Photo by Christie Datko)
Karns City’s Rebecca Pennington also had a course record on the newer Knox course to win the girls’ title in a time of 20:50.6.
Meanwhile, Clarion (27 points) captured the boys’ title and Cranberry (20 points) took home the girls’ title.
Dawson Steele of Keystone (18:59.0) was second in the boys’ race followed closely by Daniel Fisher of Cranberry (19:02.1), Logan Johnson of Cranberry (19:12.8), and Nick Schill of Clarion (19:15.4) to round out the top five.
Cranberry took the next four spots in the girls’ race with Tiffany Berry finishing second in a time of 22:22.3, Kalynne Ziegler finishing third in 23:02.1, Lauren Varsek fourth in 23:16.0 and Chelsea McKissick fifth in a time of 23:29.2.
In the junior high race, Cranberry’s Matt Woolcock won the race in a course-record time of 10:57.4 to help the Berries claim the junior high boys’ title with 22 points. Clarion’s Gavin Hoover was second in a time of 11:51.5.
Evalyn Lerch of Clarion won the junior high girls’ race in a course-record time of 12:19.7 followed by Clarion-Limestone’s Jessica McCracken (13:11.5). North Clarion won the girls’ junior high title with 49 points.
2017 KSAC Cross Country Invitational Medal Winners
Boys’ Varsity
1. Nathaniel Lerch. Clarion Area. 18:34.4 (new course record)
2. Dawson Steele. Keystone. 18:59.0
3. Daniel Fisher Cranberry 19:02.1
4. Logan Johnson. Cranberry 19:12.8
5. Nick Schill. Clarion Area. 19:15.4
6. Daniel Ketner. Clarion Area. 19:39.2
7. Noah Schill. Clarion Area. 19:39.6
8. Frankie Weber Clarion Area. 19:41.0
9. Andrew Forrest. Clarion-Limestone 19:48.3
10. Hunter O’Neil. Cranberry. 19:49.6
BOYS’ VARSITY INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONS: CLARION AREA – 27 Team pts.
Girls’ Varsity
1. Rebecca Pennington. Karns City. 20:50.6 (new course record)
2. Tifany Berry. Cranberry. 22:22.3
3. Kalynne Ziegler. Cranberry. 23:02.1
4. Lauren Varsek. Cranberry. 23:16.0
5. Chelsea McKissick. Cranberry. 23:29.2
6. Katie Craig. Clarion Area. 23:36.4
7. Rachel Bauer. North Clarion. 23:41.2
8. Taylor Geer. Keystone. 23:45.2
9. Addison Shaftic. North Clarion. 23:47.5
10. Miranda Beichner. Cranberry. 24:06.2
GIRLS’ VARSITY INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONS: CRANBERRY AREA – 20 Team pts.
Jr. High Boys’ Medal Winners
1. Matt Woolcock. Cranberry 10:57.4 (Course Record)
2. Gavin Hoover. Clarion Area. 11:51.5
3. Christian Miller. Cranberry. 12:00.9
4. Sylas Fox. Cranberry 12:09.2
5. Braden Custer. North Clarion. 12:10.8
BOYS’ JR. HIGH INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONS: CRANBERRY AREA – 22 Team pts.
Jr. High Girls’ Medal Winners
1. Evalyn Lerch. Clarion Area. 12:19.7 (Course Record)
2. Jessica McCracken. Clarion-Limestone 13:11.5
3. Bella Scott. Clarion Area. 13:19.4
4. Ashlyn Shultz. Cranberry. 13:34.0
5. Sara Weiland. Karns City. 13:47.4
GIRLS’ JR. HIGH INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONS: NORTH CLARION – 49 Team pts.