Cross Country 2017
Cross Country Calendar
Congratulations All State Selections!
2017 State Cross Country Banquet
Coaches: Please fill out and return Banquet Form by Wednesday, November 29th.
NCC Coaches: If your MVP is attending the State Banquet, please submit your write-up by Monday, November 27th, to secure its place in the banquet program.
Parents/Fans/Coaches: Click Here for unique advertising opportunities in the State Banquet Program Book, including, business ad opportunities as well as shout-outs to your favorite runner and/or team!
XC Course All Time List XC Class Course Records
XC Team Rankings Final
November 25
Nike Cross Nationals Southeast Region Championships, Cary, NC
Lydia Olivere is Nike Cross Nationals
Southeast Region Champion!
Photo courtesy of Lee Kauffman.
Padua's Olivere is the 3rd champion to hail from Delaware. Tatnall's Haley Pierce was the winner in 2010; Charter's Julie Macedo took the crown in 2011. Lydia will compete in the National Championship Meet in Portland, OR on December 2nd.
November 11
DIAA State Championships, Killen's Pond
Padua/Tatnall Repeat as State Champions Behind Dominate Wins from Season-Long Leaders, Lydia Olivere and Keelin Hays!
DI Champion Lydia Olivere
DII Champion Keelin Hays
Highlights:
The teams from Smyrna and Mount Pleasant saved the best for last in capturing 2nd Place in their respective divisions!
Olivere took the Division I title running 17:45, the 3rd fastest All Time at the long-run course at Killens. All seven Pandas placed in the top 10! She was backed by teammates Lizzie Bader (2nd), Alicia LeNoir (4th), Anna Cleary (5th), Katherine Hally (6th), Amber Owens (8th), Judy McLaughlin (10th) to score just 18 points for the win.
Smyrna senior, Naomi Bowser, prevented the Pandas from a perfect score by placing 3rd.
Also in the top 10 for DI were Olivia Brozefsky (7th), from Cape Henlopen, Alison Ramirez (9th), from William Penn.
DI girls top 15
Keelin Hays easily won the DII race in 18:15. Her teammates Lauren Ansen (5th), Olivia Hardin (6th), Erinn Sikes (10th), and Peyton Hays (16th), collectively scored 38 points over runner-up Mount with 98. This marks the 14th consecutive DII team championship for Coach Pat Costagno's Hornets. Mount placed 3 in the top 15 (Natalie Rowell/8th, Allison Shaw/9th, & Kelly Lynch/15th), for a surprise 2nd place finish.
Also in the top 10 for DII were Lillian Peterson (2nd), of Newark Charter, Alaina McGonigle (3rd), of Ursuline, Heather McClure (4th), of Conrad, and Emily Rzucidlo(7th), of Ursuline.
DII girls top 15
News Journal Article by Chuck Durante
Salesianum and Tatnall Repeat as DI/DII Champions!
DII Champion Conor Nisbet
DI Champion Michael Keehan
Highlights:
Led by a win from junior, Michael Keehan in 15:49, #9 All Time, and backed by teammates Austin Barry (3rd), Sean Banko (5th), Lucien Peach (8th), Aidan Higley(11th), the Sals scored just 28 points over runner-up Charter's 78.
Also in the top 10 were Charter's Andrew Avila (2nd) - running 15:59 for a new Sophomore Class course record - and Ben Snyder (4th), Concord's Garrett Checchi (6th), Sussex Central's Albert Norman (7th), Cape's Greg Boyce (9th) & Caesar Rodney's Colin Ritchey(10th).
DI Boys top 15
Connor Nisbet continued season-long undefeated streak in the state by winning the DII race in 15:37 - #4 All Time. Brendan Balthis placed 2nd, #7 All Time, for the winning Tatnall team. He and his teammates, Nick Garrett (4th), Joseph Cintavy (8th), Max Hardin (9th), and Sasha Latina (22nd), collectively scored 45 over runner-up St. Andrew's in what was proved to be the tightest team race of the day.
Also in the top 10 were St. Andrew's Alex Horgan (3rd), Newark Charter's Bryan DelleDonne (5th), Delmar's Austin Cave (6th), Tower Hill's Hudson Pepper (7th), and St. Andrew's Tad Sheibe (10th).
DII boys top 15
News Journal Article by Chuck Durante
November 4
New Castle County Championships, Winterthur
Padua Dominates the County Championship Placing 4 in the Top 5! Lydia Olivere Runs Fastest Time in the Event's History at Winterthur!
Lydia Olivere on her way to the fastest time ever run at Winterthur.
Photo courtesy of Lee Kauffman.
Tatnall junior, Keelin Hays/19:03, was the only girl not wearing a Padua uniform in the top 5 spots in this year's championship event. Hays placed 3rd behind Olivere, and Panda junior Lizzie Bader/18:21. Behind Hays were Anna Cleary/19:16, and Alicia LeNoir/19:19. Rounding out the top 10 places were Ursuline freshman, Alaina McGonigle/19:24 in 6th, Newark Charter Senior, Lillian Peterson/19:33 in 7th, Charter's Maya Bordrick/19:35 in 8th, Ursuline Freshman, Emily Rzucidlo/19:36 in 9th, and Tatnall's Olivia Hardin/19:37 in 10th.
Padua was the winner in the girls race, beating runner-up Tatnall by 34 points. The teams will be racing in separate divisions in the State Championship meet.
Varsity Girls News Journal Article by Chuck Durante
Connor Nisbet pictured after shaking the field.
Photo courtesy of Lee Kauffman.
Fighting a challenge in the first mile from Sallies junior, Michael Keehan, Wilmington Friends junior, Connor Nisbet, pulled away from the field and repeated as county champion. Nisbet covered the course in 15:34, the 3rd fastest time ever run on the course. Keehan was second in 15:44. Newark Charter's Bryan Delle Donne/15:56 (the only senior in the top 5), Tatnall's Brendan Balthis/15:58 and Nicholas Garrett/16:02, St. Andrew's Alex Horgan/16:06, Charter Sophomore Andrew Avila/16:09, Sallesianum's Sean Banko/16:10 and Austin Barry/16:11, and Tower Hill's Hudson Pepper/16:20 make up the top 10.
The boys from Sallies took the team championship by 27 points over Tatnall. St. Andrew's was just nine points behind Tatnall, setting up a Division II Championship battle.
Varsity Boys News Journal Article by Chuck Durante
Henlopen Conference Championships, Killens Pond State Park
Caesar Rodney Boys/Smyrna Girls are Team Champs!
Delmar's Austin Cave/16:17 and Smyrna's Naomi Bowser/18:44 are the individual conference champions.
October 31
Kent County Championships, Killens Pond State Park
Caesar Rodney Boys/Smyrna Girls Claim Kent County Titles!
Sussex County Championships
Cape Claims Both Team Titles in Sussex County Championships!
October 27
Catholic Conference, Bellevue State Park
Ursuline Wins the Catholic Conference!
Blue Hen Conference Championships, White Clay Creek
Mount Pleasant Girls Win First Team Championship in 35 Year Conference Championship History!
Megan Hurst, of St. Georges, Reinstated as Girls' Champion after Appeal of Disqualification.
Appoquinimink Boys Claim Championship - Placing 5 in the Top 15!
Garrett Checchi, of Concord, is Conference Champion!
Varsity Girls UPDATED
October 26
Diamond State Conference, Bellevue State Park
Charter Boys/Newark Charter Girls Lead the Diamond Conference!
October 25
DISC Conference, Tatnall School
Tatnall is the Winner of Both the Boys' and Girls' Championships!
October 20
Joe O'Neill Invitational, Bellevue State Park
Padua/Salesianum Champs at Bellevue!
Connor Nisbet (Friends) taking the varsity boys out in a fast first mile.
Photo courtesy of Blue Hen Photography.
Padua's Lydia Olivere on the home stretch.
Photo courtesy of Lee Kauffman.
October 13 - 14
Manhattan XC Invitational, Van Cortlandt Park, NY (Charter, DMA, Friends, Newark, Padua, Sallies, Tatnall)
Connor Nisbet Runs #3 All Time at Van Cortlandt!
Padua Places 4th in the Eastern States (Championship) Race!
Nisbet, of Wilmington Friends, is tied on the list sharing the position with Sallies alum, Pat Hally (2013), running 12:34! He was the runner up in the Varsity D race by just a second. Nisbet's time was the 7th fastest of the day.
Michael Keehan (Salesianum), made it to #7 All Time, running 12:50 to place 13th in the Championship Eastern States Division.
L-R Lydia Oliver, Lizzie Bader, Amber Owens, Jules Lenoir, Alicia Lenoir, Katie Hally, Anna Cleary
Photo courtesy of Lee Kauffman.
Padua was just 3 points behind 3rd place, once again led by senior, Lydia Olivere/14:24, who placed 4th, (5th fastest time of the day). Teammate Lizzie Bader/15:16, in her first cross country season, had a strong finish, moving up to 17th place before crossing the line as the second Panda.
Killens Pond Invitational
October 4 - 7
Salesianum Invitational, Brandywine Creek State Park
The Host Team, Sallies, Wins the Championship Division at the Creek, behind an Individual Win from Junior, Michael Keehan - 16.41. Bryan Delle Donne (Newark Charter), Wins the Small Schools Division in 17:23.
Michael Keehan (855) in the first mile.
Bryan Delle Donne in the first mile of the small schools race.
Girls Small School Division start.
Photos courtesy of Blue Hen Photography.
Great American Cross Country Festival, Cary, NC (Charter, Dover, Wm. Friends, Tatnall)
Wilmington Friends' Connor Nisbet, Clocks the 4th Fastest 5K in Delaware History, Running 15:17 to Place 8th!
Tidewater Fall Classic, Salisbury, MD
September 29 - 30
Broadwater Academy Invitational, Exmore, VA (CR, Cape Henlopen, Delmar)
Cape Claims Individual While Caesar Rodney Takes Team Titles in Virgina!
Greg Boyce/Cape (far left), Colin Ritchey/CR (2nd), Aidan Stevenosky/CR (4th),
Chris Crossen/CR (5th), Ben Dawson/CR (6th), Blaise Moyer/CR (9th), Sam Epstein/CR (10th).
Greg Boyce was the winner of the boys' race running 16:48.
Olivia Brozefsky took the girls' championship running 20:07.
Six Flags Wild Safari Invitational, Jackson, NJ (AI, Glasgow, Smyrna, St. Mark's, Wm Penn)
Smyrna's Naomi Bowser Placed 2nd in the Girls Varsity A Division Running 18:48!
Carlisle Invitational, Carlisle, PA (Padua)
Padua's Lydia Olivere Takes 2nd Place in Carlisle, Running 17:02 - the 2nd Fastest 5k on any Course by a Delaware Runner!
Olivere's time eclipses her own personal best by nearly 30 seconds (17:22/2016 Carlisle).
Paul Short XC Invitational, Bethlehem, PA (Charter, Newark, Sallies)
Salesianum Boys Finish Just 3 Points Shy of a Victory in the Boys' Brown Division!
Led by junior, Michael Keehan, who finished 8th overall with a time of 15:34, Salesianum's strong finish was not enough to outrun the team from Spring Ford. Keehan battled Charter sophomore, Andrew Avila, through most of the race to finish one place and one second ahead of him.
Newark junior, Naomi Dawkins, placed 5th overall in the Girls' White Division, passing 4 in the last mile, to run 19:12.
September 22 - 23
Pacers Running DCXC Invite, Washington DC (Archmere, St. Mark's)
Oberod Invitational, Centerville, DE
The Team from Tatnall Ends the Day With Both the Boys' and Girls' Individual Titles!
Brendan Bathis/16:29 was the overall winner for the boys. The team from Unionville took the boys' team title. Keelin Hays/20:05 was the girls champ, leading her team to the title.
Middletown Invitational, St. Andrews, DE
Ursuline and St. Andrew's are Champs at Middletown Invitational!
Smyrna's Naomi Bowser and Wilmington Friends' Connor Nisbet Take Individual Titles.
**** Varsity races 202m shorter than 5k; course re-routed due to bees. ****
Naomi Bowser of Smyrna.
Connor Nisbet of Wilmington Friends.
September 15 - 16
Ben Bloser Bulldog Cross Country Invite, Newville, PA. (Caesar Rodney)
Caesar Rodney Finishes 4th out of 33 teams on the hilly, PA course.
Oatlands Invitational, Oatlands Plantation Leesburg, Va. (Salesianum)
Salesianum Finishes 3rd in a Field of 74 Teams Led by Junior, Michael Keehan's/16:20 10th Place Finish!
Michael Keehan & Sean Banko.
Photo courtesy of Lee Kauffman.
White Clay Creek Classic, White Clay Creek
Padua Girls/Severna Park (Md) Boys Take Team Titles!
Charter Sophomore Andrew Avila Ties the Course Record for his Class!
Junior Class Start.
With Nearly 1000 finishers, and a warm temperature, local runners faired well in the co-ed, by class, format of this popular meet.
Ursuline Freshmen Alaina McGonigle and Emily Rzucidlo go 1-2.
Ezekiel Dawkins nears the finish line.
Alaina McGonigle/20:55, of Ursuline, and Ezekiel Dawkins/17:55, of Newark, were the Freshmen Class champions.
Charter's Maya Bordrick (far right), navigates the field early on.
Charter's Andrew Avila with the early lead.
Charter swept the Sophomore Class race - Maya Bordrick/20:22 and Andrew Avila/16:19. Avila ran the fastest time of the day for the boys.
Padua's Elizabeth Bader nears the finish.
Padua's Elizabeth Bader/19:54 and Bohemia Manor's Alex Longeway/16:53 were the Junior winners.
Padua's Lydia Olivere works her way up.
Newark Charter's Bryan Delle Donne in the home stretch.
Seniors Lydia Olivere/18:29, of Padua, and Bryan Delle Donne/16:40, of Newark Charter won their class. Olivere ran the fastest time of the day for the girls.
Photos courtesy of Blue Hen Photography.
September 9
Lake Forest Invitational, Killens Pond
Wilmington Friends' Junior, Connor Nisbet, Clocks #11 All Time to Win the Varsity B Race in 16:01!
Smyrna's Naomi Bowser Runs the Fastest Time of the Day for the Girls to Win the Varsity A Race in 19:18!
Cherokee Classic (BHS, Concord, Sallies, St. Mark's, Tatnall, Ursuline)
Salesianum Wins the Boys' Championship in the New Jersey, Early Season 2 Mile Event by Class.
Delaware swept the Junior Class races. Salesianum's Michael Keehan crossed the line in 9:47. Tatnall's Keelin Hays was the winner in the girls race running 11:09.
Quad XC, Fairmont Park, Philadelphia, PA (Padua)
Padua Girls (Elizabeth Bader, Anna Cleary, Katie Hally, & Alicia Lenoir), Finish First in the Relay Format Meet!
Maryland Track & Trail, Fair Hill, MD (Polytech)