Bobcats, Lions, Other District Nine Cross Country Teams Have Good Day at Prestigious PIAA Foundation Race; Coach Murtha And Coach Oaks Share Their Thoughts

on 27 September, 2022 at 18:27

Above image by Mark Bettwy – Bobcats’ at 2022 Foundation Race in Hershey: (L-R) Jonas Wilshire (third among 197 ninth graders in Single-A), Josh Turner, Ky Clark, Hayden Weber (fourth among 197 ninth graders in Single-A), Caleb Turner, Nathan Frederick, Coach Murtha and Brendan Bettwy

There were some fine accomplishments by the Clarion Area, Clarion-Limestone and other District Nine schools in the big PIAA Foundation Race. Coach Murtha and Coach Oaks shared about the many accomplishments from their teams and others from around the district.

Clarion Area Head Coach Keith Murtha

(Young Bobcats Compete at the Prestigious PIAA Foundation Race)

A squad of seven Clarion Area freshmen boys participated in the PIAA Foundation race on State Cross Country in Hershey this past weekend (Saturday, September 24th), along with 43 other of the better Single-A teams from across the commonwealth.

**Image by Mark Bettwy: Boys’ runners on the course**

The race serves as a midseason barometer as to where teams stand and also give tremendous experience to the whole big race experience on the challenging state course. The Bobcats fulfilled the mission! There is much work to do but they gained valuable experience especially for such a young group.

Image by Kelsey Makin: Cross Country 2022 Foundation Race Hershey Girls Medal winners: C-L’s Adi Jackson (top row – 5th from right) finished in 16th place, and Cranberry trio: Kayla Hanna (front row – third from right), Kelsey Hanna (back row – directly behind Kayla) and Karleigh Shaffer (front row – far right).

District 9 was well represented. In addition to Clarion, teams from Clarion-Limestone, Cranberry, Karns City, Kane and Elk County Catholic all made the trip.

Two Individual standouts from District 9 include Coudersport junior Kevin Sherry, currently ranked #1 in the State Single-A was your overall winner in 16:36 and Bradford sensation Manny Diaz in Double-A cruised across the line in 16:31.

Elk County had the strongest team performance finishing 13th, Cranberry 16th, C-L 17^th Clarion 18th, and Otto Eldred 29th.

On the girls side, ECC finished 3rd overall, and ECC junior Grace Neubert was your overall winner in 19:59. Kane finished 13th and Karns City finished 14th.

Seven girls from District 9 medaled, making the top 20, including four from the KSAC, C-L’s Adi Jackson (16th), and Cranberry trio: Kayla Hanna (8th), Karleigh Shaffer (10th) and Kelsey Hanna (18th).

It was a good day for D9 in Hershey!

Clarion-Limestone Head Coach Nicole Oaks

I will say, according to the results listed on Run High C-L (478) placed 17th and Cranberry (500) and then Clarion (526) were placed 19th and 20th in the Boys Single-A

The Lions Cross Country team had a great weekend last weekend as the team divided to represent at different events across the state.

During our local Clarion United Way race, Lions runners Drake Edmonds, Riley Rinker, Livia McGinley and Reise Jackson all placed, receiving medals in their perspective age groups.

**Image by Kelsey Makin: C-L’s Autumn Leaf Festival/United Way 5K Place Winners (L-R) Reise Jackson, Livia McGinley and Drake Edmonds.**

Across the state at the PIAA Hershey Foundations race, returning state runners Ty Rankin, and Logan Lutz both marked improved course times from their state runs last season, and the Varsity boys team placed higher than any other KSAC team, and second out of District 9 schools.

**Image by **Kelsey Makin**: Some of the CL boys at the PIAA Foundation XC Invitational in Hershey, PA Saturday. L-R – Ty Rankin, Colten Keihl, Logan Lutz, Jack Craig, and Logan Meier**

On her debut run in Hershey, Adisen Jackson gained some much earned attention bringing home a top finisher medal in the single A girls race!

**Image by Kelsey Makin: Adisen Jackson and Coach Nicole Oakes. Adi took 16 with a time of 21:42. They award medals to the top 20.**

Awesome job to all of the Lion runners!

**Image by Kelsey Makin: L-R – Kaley Milliron, Olivia Radaker, Clara Coulson, Adisen Jackson, and Madison Aaron**

(Thank you to Coach Murtha and Coach Oaks for their contributions and to Kelsey Makin and Mark Bettwy for their photos!! Good Work, Runners!!!!)