District 4 and District 7 Result Analysis!

UPDATED WITH DISTRICT 7 INFORMATION @ 7:25 PM (10/24)
District 4 A: On a cold windy afternoon @ Bloomsburg, NEB dominated the meet once again placing 5 in the top 9 with a 47 second spread. Upham and Devonshire ran about 30 second slower than last season which makes me think the course in general is slower than last year, as Griffin Molino won in 16:03. He was already a minute ahead of the field at 3k. Curt Jewett and Sam Williams ran 15:41 and 15:49 respectively. I think Molino is just as good as they were last season, or close to it. He should mix it up in the top 5 this season. There is also a chance NEB wasn’t 100%. I think they’ll be ready to roll next weekend.

District 4 AA: Mt. Carmel pulled out a 9 point win over Danville, but both will be attending the state meet. Simon Smith had a 5 second lead at 3k and cruised home to a 10 second victory. I don’t think he was pushing too hard as he was 48 seconds behind Molino’s time from the race before hand, and I think he’s much better than that. Behind him Tyler Vella placed second and was a key piece in helping Danville make it to the state meet. Also to note Quincy Amabile and Brody Beiler placed 3^rd and 5^th respectively and are just sophomores. Watch out of them in the future.

Overall District 4 as a whole is extremely young and will only get better in the next couple years.

District 7 AAA

2013 NA – Pt. 38, Avg Time- 16:34, Spread - :25 – Conditions- Cloudy and Cold

2012 NA – Pt. 50, Avg Time – 16:41, Spread - :18 – Conditions - Sunny

NA dominated the meet this season running better than they did last season, but I’m not totally impressed. They had 4 in the top 7 and an 8 second spread with those guys. Breakout star Hunter Wharrey had a strong race running 16:50, but he’s been with that group all season. The key to this team’s success is a tight pack. Obviously 25 seconds isn’t a lot, but they had an 18 second spread here last season and it fell apart last year at the state meet. If Wharrey wasn’t there this week and he didn’t fall, get tripped up, ect (which are all possibilities) then NA doesn’t look so dominant anymore. I think it’s clear that they have a top 15 guy in McGoey and the other 3 can place top 30, but to beat WCH who has a low stick in Russell, this team needs to pack up a little bit better. The top 4 though really impressed me. If Wharrey can get back up with Seel then they’ll be in good shape. If they can keep a 25 to 30 second spread at the state meet they’ve got a shot at the title.

Fox Chapel comes up HUGE in this race as they held two cards in hand last weekend. I think this is a brilliant move by their coach as he held out both Graca and Urso last weekend. I knew Graca had top 30 potential and would be a key proponent to this team, however Urso has come out of nowhere, which is really fantastic to see for this squad. Colin Martin beat’s his brother by a huge margin for the second time this season and picks up his first District title. I know Ethan is just getting back into racing, so don’t count him out of the state title conversation. I think both of them will be mixing it up with the top 7 group, but I’m really glad that Colin is racing so well. With two low sticks like that at states they could look pretty good in the team standings. 

Mount Lebanon ran very nicely this weekend with the varsity squad moving around once again for places on the top 5. Todd Gunzenhauser however has stepped up his game and emerged as the star I had hoped he could be for this team. 9^th overall in this meet is really fantastic and he has a legitimate shot at being a sophomore medalist. The pack will need to step it up however if they wish to place top 10 in AAA. 

Jeff Van Kooten also ran very well and broke up the FC and NA party in the top 7 with a 6^th place finish. He’s just a junior and has had a breakout season for PCC. He’ll be knocking on the door for a medal this weekend. Luke Regan is a guy who wasn’t on my radar at all from Pine-Richland and he placed 8^th overall. He ran track for the first time last season and clocked a 9:32.99 for 3200 which is very solid for a junior. He hung tough today and I think he should be able to do the same at states. 

Martinez, Sloan, and Wakeley came through with solid races to move onto the state meet, but nothing spectacular out of them. Wakeley always knows how to mix it up when it matters and I expect him to place very well at states. Canon-McMillan had two juniors qualify, and Eric Kennedy grabbed the last spot into the state meet as just a freshman. Slightly ironic since he wouldn’t have made it if his brother were healthy… an interesting way to pass on the torch. Not that Brent is done by any means though. I know he’ll be back soon.

District 7 AA: Well South Fayette proved they were in much better shape than shown at Tri-States as they had a big comeback weekend to claim the district title. They had a very solid spread of 46 seconds and should be able to mix it up for a top 5 spot in AAA. 

Uniontown Area was led by an individual victory from Nate Edenfield and a 4^th place finish by teammate Brady Guthrie. The two low sticks helped them nap the second spot into the meet. 

Quaker Valley didn’t have the spread they usually do for this meet, but freshman Zach Skolnekovich proved he’s the real deal placing second overall in a sub 17 effort which was the fastest time from a freshman at the meet (12 seconds ahead of Kennedy). Xavier Lang was their 3^rd man @ MAC’s, but didn’t race this weekend. If he will be back for states this team has the potential to beat South Fayette. 

Also wanted to give Mars Area some props for a really fantastic race overall. QV has beaten them handily all season and Mars was only 2 points behind them for the 3rd and last qualifying spot. They packed it in nicely and I'm proud of the way they ran. Their top guy Nathan Mrdjenovich (so) will be joined by two teammates, Zimmerman and Petrini, instead of 6 on the trip out to Hershey.

 Preston Carlsson of Knoch was the top returner going into the meet, but he placed 13th overall this season. Not sure if he's been fighting some injury issues, but his teammate Brandon Grumski has been the breakout star placing 5th as just a sophomore. Samuel Lenze (fr) of Indiana Area also will be heading over to the chocolate factory next weekend. This section of WPIAL's is fairly young, losing just half of the top 25 runners.

Also watch out for Knoch next season as they placed 5th (just 6 points behind 3rd place QV) and return 6 of 7. They had 4 underclassman on their varsity this season.

District 7 A: Avonworth claims the team title over Our Lady of Sacred Heart by just two points and look to start what could be a WPIAL 'A' dynasty. They don't lose anyone from this varsity squad going into next season and have some really quality pieces, putting two in the top 7.

OLSH packed it in with a 43 second spread 1-5 which will be helpful for them at the state meet. They'll be looking for redemption on Avonworth at the meet and might just get it.

Winchester Thurston gets the final bid by sporting a very solid top 3 that was led by 12th place finisher and freshman, Ben Littman.

Individually Carter Smith grabbed the title in a quick 16:46 clocking, followed only by Colten Trimble who just broke 17. Breakout runner Domenic Peretta (so) of Beaver Falls placed 3rd in 17:25. Gannon Leech (fr) is another underclassman to watch out for in the future as his 17:38 time was good enough for 6th overall.

--ForrestCRN

P.S. Check out The District 6 and 9 Previews below!