Hamill, Meany pace Sallies
Division I Boys cross country

By BUDDY HURLOCK
Staff reporter
11/10/2002

FELTON -- The Salesianum School tradition was on course in Saturday's boys Division I race of the Delaware High School Cross Country Championships at Killens Pond State Park.

Salesianum won its second straight title and 29th in the past 34 years.

Sallies' Ryan Hamill slipped past teammate P.J. Meany in final 10 yards to win by less than a second. Both seniors, Hamill ran the 3.1-mile course in 16:28.3, with Meany finishing in 16:28.9.

"It was awkward [at the end] and I was hoping we'd come across together," Hamill said, "because we were all working together and P.J. pushes the whole team every day, every practice, every meet."

Salesianum scored 28 points to Newark's 69. Two Sallies seniors were sixth and seventh, respectively, Mike Zeberkiewicz (16:46) and defending individual champ Tom Lord (16:56). Junior Sean Dececchis (17:16) was 12th.

"You know if you prepare in practice, you're guaranteed to win," Meany said. "The leadership becomes routine and it comes out on the course."

Coach Ralph Heiss won his 12th title.

"The last words I had for them was to 'give everything,' and they did. I rarely use the word awesome, but that's what they were," Heiss said.

Dover had two runners in the top five, with Charles Gibson (16:36) third and Patrick Boyle (16:46) fifth -- but Newark had five runners in the top 20 to earn second place.

Special to The News Journal/PAT CROWE II
The boys Division I race gets under way Saturday at Killens Pond State Park.

 

 

 
 

 

McBride, Archmere rout field
Division II Boys

By BUDDY HURLOCK
Staff reporter
11/10/2002

FELTON -- Archmere Academy had some business to settle in winning the boys Division II race at the Delaware High School Cross Country Championships at Killens Pond State Park on Saturday.

A year ago, the Auks believed they had the best shot at becoming state champion but instead lost to Cape Henlopen.

Archmere left nothing to chance this time, scoring 32 points with Tatnall a distant second at 123.

The Auks' Peter McBride won the 3.1-mile race in 16 minutes, 32 seconds.

"Last year was our main inspiration," said McBride, a junior. "That was the biggest disappointment I've had as a cross country runner. This is what we've been running for all year, and we peaked perfectly."

Archmere junior Jason Nista (17:06) was third, with freshman Chris Bourke (17:09) sixth.

"In the first mile, there were four of us in the top 10," Nista said of the Auks' start. "At that point, I knew. I knew we worked hard all year and that we'd show our best today."

All seven Auks were in the top 30. Eric Longo (17:30) was 10th, Billy DiNardo (17:41) 12th, Brian Wilson (17:46) 13th and John Corsini (18:12) 28th.

Archmere won its eighth title.

Defending champ Kyle Kershner of Tatnall placed second in 16:50. Mount Pleasant's Tyler Mayforth (17:07) was fourth and St. Thomas More's Matt Hall (17:08) was fifth.