The Tyrone Area cross country team opened their 40th anniversary season on a winning note on Tuesday afternoon, at Tyrone.
The Eagle boys took the measure of Lewistown 15-50 and Bellefonte 20-36 to open the season 2-0.
The Tyrone Lady Eagles were defeated by Bellefonte 15-50. Lewistown had no girls team.
In the Bellefonte meet, Tyrone’s Rich Stever was first in 18:38, and teammate Dustin Elder was right behind him in 19:21. Nathan Kruis was fourth in 20:25, Niko Lambert was fifth in 20:38, Evan Patterson was eighth in 21:35 and Tyler Vasbinder was 10th in 21:50, to give the Golden Eagles six of the top 10 placewinners.
In addition, Tyler Hopple was 12th, Travis Johnson was 13th, Evan Lewis was 14th, Devon Wiser 15th, Ross Black 16th, John Friday 17th and Glenn Briggs 18th.
“The weather wasn’t the greatest, our course, which is tough enough when it is dry, was even more challenging after the rain,” said Tyrone cross country coach Tammy Wills. “For our returning runners, Rich Stever, Dustin Elder, and Nathan Kruis led our pack, along with newcomers Niko Lambert, Evan Patterson, Tyler Vasbinder, Devon Wiser, Ross Black, John Friday and Glenn Briggs, just all did an outstanding job. Evan Lewis went out on a mission today and he completed it, running his best time ever on our course. I am really looking forward to watching how our boys team progresses throughout this season. We have so many talented returning runners and so much new talent. We were missing five boys today, due ti illness or injury and once we get them into the mix, I think we are looking at a very exciting season.”
In the Tyrone/Lewistown race, Stever was second to the Panthers’ Abram Nace, who ran an 18:29. Elder was third, Kruis fourth, Lambert fifth, Patterson sixth, Vasbinder seventh, Lewis eighth, Johnson ninth, and Wiser 10th, as the Tyrone boys dominated, taking nine of the top 10 spots.
On the girls side, Ashley Salyer was the first Tyrone Lady Eagle across the finish line with a sixth place finish, in 26:27. Ashley Ford was seventh in 27:25, Rachel Clapper was ninth in 33:37, Stephane Schmit was 10th in 33:52 and Salena Bradigan was 11th in 34:05.
“Ashley Salyer, who is new to the sport of cross country, but has proven herself as a long distance runner in track and field, led our Lady Eagles,” said Wills. “She was followed by veteran runners Ashley Ford, Rachel Clapper, Stephane Schmit and Salena Bradigan. For the first time in a long time, we have a complete girls team. Although, our numbers are not super high, which has been a problem in the past. We can still score as a team. The girls ran really hard today, and I am very happy with all of them.”
