XC Talk: North Allegheny

North Allegheny

2012 State Meet Place: 4^th

Key Returners:

Matt McGoey (Jr) – 9:23 3200, 8^th @ WPIAL’s, 62^nd @ States.

Cordon Louco (Sr) – 4:28 1600, 9:29 3200, 11^th @ WPIALs, 44^th @ States

Seamus Love (Jr) – 2:00 800, 4:33 1600, 10^th @ WPIALs, fell at states

Scott Seel (Jr) – XC only guy, 14^th @ WPIALs, 45^th @ states

Season Preview

North Allegheny was a fairly young squad last year as they only graduated their top guy Josh Zemet who placed 15^th at the state meet. This is definitely a blow to NA, but when you return 6 of your top 7, have a couple guys break out in track season and have a team of 150 people, you reload quickly. In 2012 they ran with a fantastic spread of under 20 seconds in almost every major invitational they went to until they got the Hershey. The tough hills broke up the pack to 63 seconds and they placed 4^th. Now we’ve got a squad of guys who are a year older, wiser, stronger, and hungrier. 

This year’s squad will most likely be led by junior stud Matt McGoey. He was their #1 or 2 all season until states when he was their 4^th man in a seemingly disappointing race. He bounced back in spring track running a big PR of 9:23 which is phenomenal for a sophomore. Ethan Martin was 9:24 as a sophomore… I believe he’s going to be the breakout star for this team and could potential be a top 10 guy in AAA.

                Their 2-4 consists of Cordon Louco (Sr), Seamus Love(Jr), and Scott Seel (Jr) which is by far the best 2-4 trio in the state. They were right next to each other at WPIALs and States which is exactly where you want your studs to be. They all went through in 5:00 but then Love was tripped up and his teammates rolled on to both finished right inside the top 45. I think they’re all looking for a top 30 to 35 finish, if not trying to grab medals and they’re capable of it. Louco running sub 9:30 for 3200 is key and Love had a solid track season for himself running 2:00 and 4:33. Love and Seel are only juniors and could have a breakout year and pass Louco, but don’t expect Louco to let his teammates go easily. They’ll be pushing each other all season. 

                Now it comes to who will their 5^th man be? In a squad that could place 4 in the top 35 (Which would be about 60 points through 4 men) NA does have a shot to compete with Henderson if they slip up, but only if they have a strong 5^th man, which could come from anywhere. Let’s roll through some guys who could be plugged into this equation:

Chris Chang (Sr): He placed 108^th last year as their 5^th man at states and ran varsity most of the year. He will need to step it up big time though for them to compete for a top spot. He did run 4:34 for 1600 this past spring which shows he has continued to improve.

Nick McClure(Sr): He placed 130^th at states last year as their 6^th man and ran fairly solid all season. His only mark in track is 10:31 for 3200, but came back and ran 16:16 in the first meet.

Kolbe Short(Sr): He was fairly unknown last season, but did run a solid 4:31 clocking for 1600 and PR’d at RW&B in 16:36.

Hunter Wharrey (Jr): He’s NA’s breakout star of the year right now. He ran JV most of last season with a PR of 17:24 at the PCC Invitational for a winning effort. This season he jumped out of the gate with a MASSIVE PR of 16:05 as their 5^th man. If he can keep this up they’re squad will be right where they need to be.

Peter Svachick (Jr): Ran 16:26 as their 7^th man this past weekend, could potential get into the top 5.

Overview: This team has a fantastic top 4 and tons of depth behind them. If they can maintain a solid 5th man they should be a lock for second place at the state meet and challenge for a top 5 spot at regionals. 

That's all for Now Folks!

--ForrestCRN