Fall doesn't keep Bulldog from title
Leitsch paces Brandywine girls to Blue Hen crown; Middletown boys win

By BUDDY HURLOCK
Staff reporter
10/28/2001

NEWARK -- She ran. She fell. She still won.

Brandywine High freshman Jessica Leitsch tripped about a quarter-mile before the finish at Saturday's Blue Hen Conference Championships at White Clay Creek State Park.

Leitsch still finished first by almost a half-minute and had just the second sub-20 minute girls time this year on the 3.1-mile course. She won in 19:59.

Middletown senior Matt Ayars won the boys race in 17:07 and the Cavaliers won a second- straight boys title.

Brandywine's girls won an eighth-straight team title easily, with six runners in the top 14.

Leitsch slipped on the leafy terrain and isn't worried she'll be affected for next Saturday's county championship meet at the same site.

"She got right back up and finished under 20, so she'll be fine," Brandywine coach Michele Flanigan said.

Jenn Kutney was second at 20:24 and Hilary Taylor fourth at 20:28. Following were Dana Stoltenborg (11th, 21:36), Leslie Wason (12th, 21:37) and Alison Sanchez (14th, 21:52).

Middletown's Jen Fose was third (20:25) and A.I. du Pont's Jackie Reifschneider was fifth (20:40). In the team standings, the Bulldogs were followed by Middletown, Charter and McKean.

Middletown's boys had five runners in the top 25 to edge Newark.

Ayars said the 50-degree weather was beneficial.

"It causes less dehydration and I just felt good today," he said. "I have those on days, and off days, and [Saturday] was our day by far."

Jeremy Lambert was seventh for the Cavs in 17:32 and Jeff Wilber 13th at 17:41. Joe Barry was 17th (18:01) and Chris Bromwell 25th (18:22).

Bill Dubois, in his 15th season as coach, said Middletown's program has come along behind an offseason program coordinated by parents.

"With all that support, they [the team] are willing to do the work," Dubois said.

A.I. du Pont's Pete Roth was second at 17:25, followed by Newark's Pat Wilcox (17:27), Charter's Pat Lampkin (17:28) and A.I.'s Kevin Lanigan (17:29).

The News Journal/WILLIAM BRETZGER
Jessica Leitsch of Brandywine crosses the finish line to win the girls race at the Blue Hen Conference Championships Saturday.

 

The News Journal/WILLIAM BRETZGER
Middletown's Matt Ayars won the boys race and led the Cavaliers to the team championship Saturday.

 

2001 Blue Hen Conference XC Championships

10-27-01
White Clay Creek State Park

Boy's Team Results
1- Middletown 63; 2- Newark 76; 3- A.I. duPont 93; 4- Brandywine 104; 5- Charter 105; 6- McKean 108; 7- Hodgson 187; 8- Dickinson 209; 9- Mt. Pleasant 277; 10- Christiana 295; 11- William Penn 296; 12- Delcastle 342; 13- Glasgow 359; 14- Concord 412; 15- Howard Incomplete

Boy's Individual Results
1- Matt Ayars, Middletown 17:07; 2- Roth, A.I. duPont, 17:25; 3- Wilcox, Newark 17:27; 4- Lampkin, Charter, 17:28; 5- Lanigan, A.I. duPont, 17:29; 6- Orensky, McKean, 17:32; 7- Lambert, Middletown, 17:32; 8- Knight, Newark, 17:37; 9- Hakes, A.I. duPont, 17:42; 10- Grafton, Hodgson, 17:46; 11- Myers, BRandywine, 17:46; 12; Rominger, Brandywine, 17:47; 13- J. Wilber, Middletown 17:47; 14- Sestak, Dickinson, 17:47; 15- Frangakis, McKean, 17:51

Girl's Team Results
1- Brandywine 30; 2- Middletown 75; 3- Charter 103; 4- McKean 105; 5- A.I. duPont 150; 6- Newark 172; 7- Hodgson 172; 8- Mt. Pleasant 206; 9- Christiana 229; 10- William Penn 262; Incomplete: Delcastle, Dickinson, Glasgow

Girl's Individual Results
1- Jessica Leitsch, Brandywine, 19:59; 2- Kutney, Brandywine 20:24; 3- Fose, Middletown 20:25; 4- Taylor, Brandywine, 20:28; 5- Reifschneider, A.I. duPont, 20:40; 6- Stille, McKean, 21:10; 7- Billings, Middletown, 21:12; 8- Whitesell, Hodgson, 21:13; 9- Turner, Dickinson, 21:18; 10- Nimmerichter, Middletown, 21:23; 11- Stoltenborg, Brandywine 21:36; 12- Wason, Brandywine, 21:37; 13- Spence, Newark, 21:47; 14- Sanchez, Brandywine, 21:52; 15- Ogburn, Charter, 21:56