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Penn College seeks cross-country championships

Pennsylvania College of Technology cross-country runners will seek individual and team titles Saturday when they compete in the North Eastern Athletic Conference Championships in Lancaster.

On Friday, the Wildcat men finished last in an eight-team field at the Lebanon Valley College Last Chance Run Fast Invitational. David Carlson finished 83rd among 95 runners over an 8K course in 32:39.8 to lead the Wildcats. No Penn College women competed.

“It was just a meet to give some of the kids in the back a chance to run a PR (personal record). It was a flatter course. … In case somebody was going to miss conferences or couldn’t compete, I wanted to give them one more meet to race in this year,” coach Nick Patton said of the Friday event.

Assessing the season thus far, Patton said, “We’ve had stiff competition, but we’ve progressed. I think we’re where we need to be right now. I’m liking everything I see right now and I’m confident that we will be ready to go next weekend.”

Josh Velez and Jersey Shore grad Sidney Trunzo have led the men’s and women’s teams, respectively, throughout the season, and Patton is hopeful of all-conference finishes (top 21) for each.

“They’re (the women) going to go out and run and do their best because they’ve done it all season. … We’re at the right spot and we’re ready to go. The women’s conference (championship) is pretty much up for grabs,” Patton said, adding, “The team (men) should be somewhere in the top five.”

Patton described the Lancaster Bible College course’s hills as “moderate,” which should be an advantage for his runners, who he said are more “strength runners.” But he has a bigger concern.

“Hopefully, it’s dry. We haven’t gotten too may dry courses this year. It’s either been 90 degrees or it’s been muddy wherever we’ve traveled,” the coach said.

Among those expected to compete for the Penn College men are Velez, Thomas Runner, Matt Leiby, Muncy grad Jonah Isaacson, Ben Ericksen, Chris Hogan and Alex Giffin.

Competing for the Penn College women, in addition to Trunzo, are Rosey Thomas, Montoursville grad Katie Plankenhorn, Nikki Crow, Blossburg native Brittany Weiskopff and Mallory Hoffman.

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