Manheim Township boys meet District 3 cross country championship goal

NEWVILLE — To say the Lancaster-Lebanon League ruled the roost at Big Spring High School for the 2024 District Three cross country championships?

That would be an understatement.

Both Manheim Township and Annville-Cleona each exited with one of the newly designed championship trophies.

Toss in Leola’s Veritas Academy winning the Class 1A title, and what the local teams did may have also been unprecedented.

Township used a perfect fall day for running to finally grasp a victory that has eluded it the past three years.

“It has been a total of nine points, and it has been a lot of hard work the past four years to get this monkey off our backs,” Manheim Township coach Kevin Stover said. “This year, we were like, ‘Let’s try to hone in a little more.’ I can’t be more proud of them. This is one heck of an accomplishment for the kids, the parents, the school district, and everyone involved.”

Leading the way for the Blue Streaks was Adam Kingston, who came in second overall in the 3A race with a time of 15:24.6. A senior, Kingston battled Hershey’s Vinay Raman (first, 15:20.0) until the end, just missing out on back-to-back individual crowns.

Instead of being upset, Kingston wore a huge smile, knowing that he had helped his team to a goal it had held had since his freshman year.

“You can’t complain. The time I ran was great and 20 seconds faster than last year,” Kingston said. “I told the guys coming in I am going to do everything I can do to get us this title. We have been so close the last three years, and if I could have finished 15th and won the title, I would be the happiest guy here. It is all about the team here today.”

Ethan Peffley was the next Streak to cross the line, clocking a 15:45.8 to take fourth overall.

“This feels so good,” Peffley said. “We have been close the past few years, and words can’t explain how happy I am. I expected the top five individually, and that is how it was. I finished strong. It was my same time from leagues, but overall, I am very happy with it.”

Also heading to the upcoming state meet with the Blue Streaks are Cole Stevens (13th, 16:07.2), Ben Doumaux (45th, 16:40.9), and Josh Henshaw (59th, 16:52.2). Steven Atteberry also ran for Township (74th, 17:02.7).

Up next was Veritas, which was led by Henry Friedrichs, the only boys individual champion to come out of the area.

Friedrichs destroyed the Class 1A field in 15:39.8, a time that would have been good enough to take fourth in the Class 3A race.

“Really, my goal was to be faster than (at the) Ben Bloser (Bulldog Invitational),” Friedrichs said. “It was a little tougher than I thought. The headwinds were stronger than I thought. The goal was to place high as a team, and that was pretty much it. This feels good.”

Gus Seifferlein (fourth, 17:15.2), Patrick Daughtrey (fifth, 17:27.2), Luke Wenger (25th, 18:51.7) and Gavin McCullough (30th, 19:15.8) all qualified with the team for states.

“We knew they could finish top five, and they did it,” Veritas coach John Mertz said. “It’s been a long time since we won (2012). We have a bunch of great guys. It’s a blessing. It should be good at state.”

Annville-Cleona capped the fantastic Saturday with a Class 2A championship, and this one was especially sweet, as the team just moved up from Class 1A to 2A this year.

“Back-to-back, and no easy feat,” A-C coach Caitlin Heller said. “And I think after all the success of last year, the pressure to redo for them was a lot because you have the expectation. So, for them to be able to do the work and have fun? They finished the mission to win the district. It speaks of them and their dedication over the summer.”

Oliver Funck continued his torrid season, leading the boys with a third-place finish in 16:23.8. He was followed by Landon Hostetter, who was fourth in 16:39.0. Also qualifying for states with A-C — all running in the top 30 — were Matt Clemson (27th, 17:26.5), Luke Tshudy (28th, 17:26.7) and Benjamin Boyd (30th, 17:35.6).

2024 District 3 cross country championships [photos]

McCaskey on to states

Prior to the start of the 3A race, McCaskey coach Derek Jennings was cautiously optimistic but also had a good feeling about his boys team.

He was right.

Led by Matthew McNair (15th, 16:08.1), the Red Tornado — which finished fourth overall — also qualified for the PIAA meet as a team, with Sam Richard (42nd, 16:36.9), Seth Carter (56th, 16:48.2), Benjamin Gillespie (57th, 16:50.7) and Elijah Sollenberger (67th, 16:57.5) rounding out their contingent.

Seven other runners from the L-L, led by Cedar Crest’s Travis Furmanski (sixth, 15:48.6), also qualified as individuals.

“I knew I wanted to be top ten today,” Furmanski said. “I have never been this high in districts. I caught a couple of people after Kill Hill, then a lot with my final kick.”

Warwick’s Cooper Hollinger (seventh, 15:49.1) was right on his tail the entire race.

Elizabethtown’s Dante Checco (16th, 16:11.7) and Dalton Fink (34th, 16:29.1), Donegal’s Micah Brydon (23rd, 16:17.2), Ephrata’s Kyle Reidenbaugh (25th, 16:19.2), Lampeter-Strasburg’s Michael Colosi (28th, 16:19.8), Hempfield’s Sam Meyer (32nd, 16:26.5) and Warwick’s Lincoln Weaver (36th, 16:29.9) will also be in Hershey next Saturday.

Lusby Class of 2A

Octorara’s Cody Lusby just edged Funck at the finish to bring home a second-place medal behind champion Ryan Gourley (16:11.5) of Oley Valley. Lusby clocked a 16:23.6.

He was one of three individual runners in the area to make it to the 2A state field. Joining Lusby will be Northern Lebanon’s Luke Hentz (11th, 16:55.7) and Pequea Valley’s Jonah Zink (13th, 17:00.6)

Huxta, Crusaders also qualify in 1A

Lancaster Catholic will join A-C and be taking its team to Hershey. Ian Zachery (12th, 18:14.4), Isaac Moore (17th, 18:27.3), Michael Sheaffer (19th, 18:33.5), Jack Senkowski (21st, 18:39.7), and Owen McKeon (28th, 19:11.8) will be making the trek.

Noah Huxta of Dayspring Academy, who was second (16:53.5), was the lone individual to make it out of the 1A field to state from Lancaster County.

“It feels really good,” Huxta said. “It means a lot. I’m happy to be in this spot and go onto states.”