While it wasn't enough to knock off powerhouse North East, the Eisenhower boys cross country runners have made some great strides in the past year.
A year after the Grapepickers defeated the Knights by 30 points, Eisenhower fell by just 14 - 22-36 - Tuesday at Eisenhower High School and added a victory over Warren for good measure. The Warren boys also fell to North East, 15-50.
In girls competition, North East topped Warren, 21-34 and Eisenhower, 15-50. Warren won its meet with the Lady Knights by a 15-50 count.
Article Photos
Times Observer photo by Allen Seybert
Surrounded
Eisenhower’s Julia Bauer, right, is surrounded by North East competitors shortly after the start of the girls 5K race during Tuesday’s tri-meet with North East and Warren at Eisenhower High School. Bauer passed most of her Grapepickers competition, finishing third overall in the race.
"The boys team showed a lot of improvement," said Ike coach Darlene Beach. "Anthony (Amroski) and Devin (VanGuilder) ran their fastest times ever on the course as did Ben Morrison and Matt Jewell ran a strong fifth for us today."
Beach added that both Jason Morine and Jacob Hoffman ran personal bests on their home course during the meet.
Amroski and VanGuilder were third and fourth overall for the Knights, finishing in 17:38 and 17:59 respectively. It was the first time each had run under 18 minutes on the course. Ben Perkins finished seventh in 19:18 in his first home cross country meet.
Morrison finished 10th in 20:23 and Jewell was 13th in 20:53 followed by Derek Lasecki (18th, 21:39), Levi Stanko (20th, 22:39), Morine (21st, 22:44), Jacob McCool (25th, 23:18) and Hoffman (26th, 24:38).
Warren's first male runner across the finish line was Seth Johnson who came home 14th in 21:06. Just 13 seconds back of Johnson was Christian Olson who was 15th in 21:19. Mark Reiff was 17th in 21:38 and Eric Zavinski (19th, 21:45) also had a top 20 finish for the Dragons.
Daniel Pierson (22nd, 22:50), Max Pierson (23rd, 22:54) and Zach James (26:45) also competed for the Dragons.
Eisenhower sophomore Julia Bauer had an impressive run from start to finish in the girls race. Bauer ran out strong with North East's top runners and came in third in 22:37. Warren's top runner Ellis Beardsley was fourth in 23:00.
"Julia had a great time for our course," said Beach. "She looked really strong today."
The next two county runners to finish were both from Warren with Amanda Castagnino sixth in 23:30 and Deanna Hahn was eighth in 24:18.
Alyssa Cumberland (12th, 26:03) and Taylor Rosenberg (16th, 36:02) rounded out the Lady Dragons' lineup and Ike's lineup also featured Lacey Stanko (9th, 25:27), Kate Daugharthy (13th, 26:05) and Grace Thompson (14th, 27:02).
Eisenhower is back in action Saturday at the Red Dragon Invitational at Longpoint State Park while Warren returns to the course Tuesday alongside Fort LeBoeuf at Corry Area High School.
North East 22, Eisenhower boys 36
Eisenhower boys 15, Warren 43
North East 15, Warren boys 50
Results (top 10 and local runners): 1. Ryan Smathers (NE) 17:06, 2. Gary Olson (NE) 17:30, 3. Anthony Amroski (E) 17:38, 4. Devin VanGuilder (E) 17:59, 5. Jacob Miller (NE) 18:44, 6. Brandon Garske (NE) 19:13, 7. Ben Perkins (E) 19:18, 8. Jacob Fuhrman (NE) 19:43, 9. Cooper Land (NE) 20:22, 10. Ben Morrison (E) 20:23, 13. Matt Jewell (E) 20:53, 14. Seth Johnson (W) 21:06, 15. Christian Olson (W) 21:19, 17. Mark Reiff (W) 21:38, 18. Derek Lasecki (E) 21:39, 19. Eric Zavinski (W) 21:45, 20. Levi Stanko (E) 22:39, 21. Jason Morine (E) 22:44, 22. Daniel Pierson (W) 22:50, 23. Max Pierson (W) 22:54, 25. Jacob McCool (E) 23:18, 26. Jacob Hoffman (E) 24:38, 27. Zach James (W) 26:45
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North East 21, Warren girls 34
North East 15, Eisenhower girls 50
Warren girls 15, Eisenhower 50
Results (top 10 and local runners): 1. Anne Lewis (N) 22:06, 2. Alex Artise (N) 22:22, 3. Julia Bauer (E) 22:37, 4. Ellis Beardsley (W) 23:00, 5. Emma Verdonik (N) 23:20, 6. Amanda Castagnino (W) 23:30, 7. Shelbee Messenger (N) 24:15, 8. Deanna Hahn (W) 24:18, 9. Lacey Stanko (E) 25:27, 10. Deanna Long (N) 25:34, 12. Alyssa Cumberland (W) 26:03, 13. Kate Daugharthy (E) 26:05, 14. Grace Thompson (E) 27:02, 16. Taylor Rosenberg (W) 36:02
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Corry 26, Harbor Creek boys 29
Corry 18, Youngsville boys 37
Harbor Creek def. Youngsville boys
Corry 19, Harbor Creek girls 38
Corry 25, Youngsville girls 31
Youngsville vs. Harbor Creek girls, no report
HARBORCREEK - Youngsville placed three girls in the top five during a Region 4 cross country tri-meet with Corry and Harbor Creek Tuesday in Harborcreek.
Youngsville fell to Corry, 25-31, and its final score with the Huskies was not available as only the top ten runners in each race were provided to the Times Observer. The Youngsville boys were defeated by Harbor Creek as well as by Corry, 18-37.
Abbie Swartzbaugh had a strong outing for the Lady Eagles, finishing second overall. Only race winner Danielle Munsee (21:21) finished ahead of Swartzbaugh. Katelyn Maille was a strong fourth for Youngsville and Kellie Lindstrom was fifth.
In the boys race, Youngsville's Aaron Hoover was lone Eagle to finish inside the top ten, placing sixth overall.
Youngsville hosts both Eisenhower and Union City on Tuesday.
Boys
Corry 26, Harbor Creek 29
Corry 18, Youngsville 37
Harbor Creek def. Youngsville
Results (top 10): 1. Pondel (C) 16:35, 2. Royek (C), 3. Mandel (H), 4. Detar (H), 5. Whitely (C), 6. Hoover (Y), 7. Grover (H), 8. Seibert (H), 9. Gray (C), 10. Carpenter (H)
Girls
Corry 19, Harbor Creek 38
Corry 25, Youngsville 31
Youngsville vs. Harbor Creek, no report
Results (top 10): 1. Munsee (C) 21:21, 2. Swartzbaugh (Y), 3. Sutherland (C), 4. Maille (Y), 5. Lindstrom (Y), 6. Blanton (C), 7. Edmondson (H), 8. Maguire (H), 9. McCray (C), 10. Dingfelder (C)