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Clarion’s Lerch Wins Again In Cranberry, Clarion’s Junior High Boys Win Over Cranberry

(By Matt Lerch)

Clarion Area Bobcat Varsity and Junior High Boys and Girls Cross Country Squads ran at Cranberry High School, on Thursday (September 19th), under sunny skies and temperate conditions. 

Nathaniel Lerch clocked a time of 17:15 on the 5k course,for the Bobcat Varsity Boys, cruising through the tape without a trailer. 

Clarion’s usual tight pack of runners that recently scored 2nd through 6th place against Karns City and Clarion-Limestone last week and are the recipe for Clarion’s success were scattered in today’s race. 

Sophomore Gavin Hoover turned a blazing fast 18:28 in fourth place, senior Nick Frederick placed eighth place in 19:09, sophomore Keagan Phillips placed tenth in 19:18, and rounding out the top fiveBobcat scorers was junior Donnie Cunningham placed fifteenth in 20:13. 

Senior Nate Datko was not far off the pace of Cunningham at 20:24, senior Alex Cussins ran a 22:19, sophomore Philip Bartley clocked in at 24:28, sophomore Milton McElravy cruised in at 25:34 and Daniel Griebel finished the 5K in 29:36.

The Boys Varsity finished behind Cranberry with a score of 23-35. 

Clarion’s Varsity Girls also competed with returning state runner sophomore Bella Scott placing second in the varsity girls event in a time of 22:56.  The second Bobcat runner to cross the line was sophomore Grace Adams in fifth place in 27:14, Aaliyah Dittman finished eighth in 27:59, junior Ali Stivanson finished in tenth place in 30:50. And rounding out Clarion’s scoring top five was sophomore Grace Schmader crossing the line in eleventh place in 31:18.  Rounding out the Bobcat girls varsity was Abby Frederick in 31:20 and Grace Troese in 37:55. 

The Varsity Girls were outscored by Cranberry 21-36. 

The Junior High Clarion Harriers were the only team to outscore Cranberry, 20-41.  

Brady Pierce finished second overall to lead the Bobcats to the road to victory.  The Junior High Clarion girls had a first place finish breaking the tape by eighth grader Gia Babington. 

The girls lost to Cranberry 20-35. 

Clarion’s Varsity Runners will face Cranberry again, amongst 30 teams competing this Saturday (September 21st) at the PIAA Foundation Race in Hershey.  The Bobcat Boys are ranked sixth out of 30 teams and the girls are ranked seventeenth out of 30 teams. 

(Thanks to Matt Lerch for this article and photo. All the best, in the PIAA Foundation Race, Cats!!!!)