By: Eric Roteveel
Staff Writer

The cross-country season is in full swing this fall as the teams compete in numerous competitions and invitationals around the area. Both the boys’ and girls’ teams are preparing for Suburban One League and District competitions later this year.
Boys’ Cross Country
The boys’ team is led by junior captain Eric Chapman and junior Dustin Willing. Each runner has consistently been one of the top finishers.
“Eric has been our only runner thus far to win a ‘Top-20’ medal at our invitational’s,” Coach Russ Horrocks said. “Dustin Willing has come really close once or twice, as has Eric Chapman.”
The team’s most recent competitions have been at the Salesinium Invitational in Delaware, and a home tri-meet against Bensalem and Council Rock North. In Delaware, the boys finished eighth at the Salesinium as they competed in the Large School race, with Chapman finishing in 25th and Nick Hoffman in 47th. The other three scoring runners were Dustin Willing (58th), Dan Plunkett (59th), and Sean Conway (60th).
In the home tri-meet, the boys were overpowered by both Bensalem and Council Rock North. “Our goal was to stay close to Council Rock and Bensalem and try to ‘break up’ their top five runners,” coach Horrocks said. They were unable to execute the game plan as Chapman was the only runner to break the top 10 with a ninth place finish.
Girls’ Cross Country
As the SOL and District competitions near, coach Horrocks believes there are four runners he could look to for a high finish. They would include Chapman, Willing, Hoffman and Sean Hastings.
The girls’ cross country team, coached by Steve Harnish, is led by seniors Nicole Malageri and Mary Kate McMonagle, as well as juniors Maddie Perillo and Alyssa Zukowski.
The 2013 season is a rebuilding year for the team as it is filled with underclassmen. The young runners are inexperienced but full of promise. Of the 13 girls on the roster, only five are juniors and seniors. Coach Harnish is hoping that the young runners can gain experience from this season which will lead to future success.
So far this season, the girls have posted a record of 2-4, with wins against Bensalem and Abington. The team’s most recent competitions were at the Steel City Invitational in Coatesville, Pa., and a home tri-meet against both Council Rock North and Bensalem. Lexi Fleming had an impressive performance in each, as she finished 15th in Steel City and 11th in the tri-meet.
“With the season winding down the girls will try to improve and gain confidence from their last few meets of the season,” Harnish said. According to the Bucks County Courier Times cross country notebook article on Sept. 9, “Harnish hopes the girl’s peak by the District One Class AAA championships Oct. 25.” The girls will be expected to perform their best against the top runners in the area.