Sprint to the finish: Cal鈥檚 Kent, McClaflin edge Chapley for 1-2 finish
COAL CENTER 鈥� Calvary Chapel Christian School鈥檚 Stephen Chapley gave California鈥檚 Carter Kent and Niamh McClaflin a run for their money with a sprint to the finish, but the teammates managed to hold off the charge for the top two spots in Tuesday鈥檚 Section 5-AA meet.
The Trojans swept the triangular by defeating Brownsville, 20-36, and Calvary Chapel Christian School, 21-34. Calvary Chapel Christian School downed Brownsville, 24-31.
Kent broke the tape in 20:49, just one second ahead of McClaflin and Chapley. McClaflin just edged out Chapley for second place.
Kent and McClaflin set the pace on their home course from the get-go, settling in ahead of the pack throughout the race.
鈥淲e knew going into this race we wanted to preserve our legs a little bit and take it as a good workout,鈥� explained Kent. 鈥淲e wanted to stay in front of the pack and do what we needed to do to finish first and second.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter who鈥檚 first or second. We look at it as we鈥檙e the same team as long as we take care of business.鈥�
Kent earned one of the last qualifying berths from the WPIAL Championship into the state meet. He doesn鈥檛 want to scoreboard watch this season.
鈥淭his year I had a lot more miles, speed training and endurance,鈥� said the sophomore. 鈥淚 made a commitment to myself to do whatever I can every day to get better.鈥�
McClaflin noted he wanted to pace with Kent.
鈥淚 wanted to keep towards the front and keep up with the pace,鈥� said McClaflin. 鈥淚 was not going for a PR today. My foot was hurting a little bit today and I didn鈥檛 want to go hard.鈥�
Chapley said he needed to run down the two teammates in the final half-mile of the race, and when the trio turned to the finish line, Chapley started his sprint with Kent and McClaflin responding in kind.
鈥淚t was a good time. I was trying to get second,鈥� said Chapley.
Chapley has a time in mind he鈥檇 like to reach by the end of the season.
鈥淗opefully, I鈥檒l get a sub-20 (minutes) this year. A 19:59 would be great,鈥� said Chapley.
California鈥檚 Charles Meiss finished fourth in 21:30 and Brownsville鈥檚 Owen Shimshook placed fifth in 22:20.
鈥淚 was trying to keep the leaders in my sight. I wanted a steady push, but still run my pace,鈥� said Shimshock, a sophomore. 鈥淚 ran good time.鈥�
Shimshock, too, seeks to slice down his time in the final month or so of the season.
鈥淚 definitely want to break the 20-minute line,鈥� said Shimshock.
While neither the California nor Brownsville girls had enough runners to score the meet, the Lady Trojans finished 1-2 and Brownsville grabbed third place. Calvary Christian School defeated both teams, 15-50.
California鈥檚 Lucia Meiss finished first in 25:06 and teammate Ella Neil placed second with a time of 28:10. Both runners are first-year seniors.
鈥淚 started running a year ago. My mom鈥檚 a runner and my brother is on the cross country team,鈥� explained Meiss. 鈥淚 fell in love with it. I ran distance in the spring (in track & field).鈥�
Meiss has a busy schedule as a member of the soccer team and cheerleading squad.
鈥淭hey do melt together very well. My coaches are great about it,鈥� Meiss said of all her activities. 鈥淚 think soccer takes more out of my legs. I鈥檓 a midfielder, so I run the most.
Brownsville鈥檚 Mataia Geary finished third in 30:40, followed by Calvary Chapel Christian School鈥檚 Rosie Startare (32:33) and Chelsea Glumac (32:25).