Liam Raehsler’s Second Place Paces Bobcat Boys At Prestigious PIAA Meet In Hershey, Also First At C-L, Bettwy And Frakes Fourth (09/23/14)

The Clarion Bobcat Cross Country Teams were busy last week. They were part of a Tri-Meet at Clarion-Limestone, with the Lions and Cranberry Berries. Then on Saturday (September 20) the Bobcat Boys took part in the PIAA Foundation Race, in Hershey.

(All photos by Mark Bettwy) PIAA Foundation Meet: Liam, second from left in front, poses with other medal winners

Rod Raehsler provides this recap of both events:

At Clarion-Limestone
High School Boys:
Liam Raehsler won with a time of 17:38. Adam Bettwy was fourth with a time of 18:47. Other Bobcats competing were Jimmy Smathers in tenth (19:41), Crowe Theim in 11th (20:17), Marshall Powers in 17th (21:49), and Victor Stahlman in 24th (27:25). Cranberry won the dual with Clarion 21-41.

High School Girls:
Cranberry won the dual against Clarion by a score of 17 to 46. Hannah Frakes was the top finisher for the Bobcats placing 4th with a time of 23:22. Macy Reichert was 16th with a time of 28:41 followed closely by Elizabeth Saver in 18th (29:09), Lilith Frakes in 19th (29:37), and Mackenzie DiTullio in 20th (31:19).

Junior High:
Nathaniel Lerch of Clarion won the boys race in 11:06. Katie Craig was the top Bobcat finisher for the girls in fourth place with a time of 13:00.

After the PIAA Foundation Race: (L-R) Victor, Crowe, Marshall, Jimmy, Liam, Adam, and Coach Keith Murtha.

At Hershey:
The boys varsity team took part in the prestigious PIAA Foundation Race held in Hershey this past weekend. Many top teams and runners across the state ran on the same course where the state championship will be held on November 1.

Liam Raehsler led the Clarion Bobcats to a fourteenth place finish out of 26 schools by finishing in second place with a time of 16:49. This is his personal best at one of the more challenging courses in the state. He was beaten by Julian Degroot-Lutzner of Masterman, the event’s defending champion.

Other Clarion runners turned in exceptional performances. Runners were Adam Bettwy finishing in 43rd with a time of 18:54, Jimmy Smathers in 87th with a time of 20:04, Crowe Theim in 110th place with a time of 20:51, Marshall Powers in 144th with a time of 22:49, and Victor Stahlman in 167th with a time of 27:35.

Pre Race, PIAA Foundation Race, the team at the starting line

(Thanks to Coach Raehsler for providing this summary and to Mark Bettwy for the great photos. Congratulations to Liam for his second place finish at Hershey and to the Bobcat Boys for finishing 14th!!!!)