BY JEFF FALK

EPHRATA – Jared Harnish was seeking a spot in the second half of the top ten. The Cedar Crest boys were hoping for a top-four finish.

Let’s just say that splitting the difference was all right with everyone involved.

On Tuesday afternoon at Ephrata Middle School, during the annual running of the Lancaster-Lebanon League Cross Country Championships, Harnish, a senior out of Elco, and the masculine Falcons starred for the local contingent. Harnish ran a very gratifying seventh, while Cedar Crest surprised everyone but itself by taking third as a team.

Harnish, the reigning Lebanon County champion, covered the 3.1-mile course in a 16:35.9 that was well of the 15:47.8 pace set by talented McCaskey harrier Nathan Henderson. The blossoming Falcons, who went 18-3 during  the regular year, counted 121 team points, which was surpassed only by champion Hempfield’s 54 and Penn Manor’s 117.

“Philosophically, you’re going to get a different answer, depending on where you go,” said Cedar Crest head coach Brandon Risser, of the heightened importance of cross country’s postseason. “At Cedar Crest High School, if I’m coaching, I want to be racing our best for the league meet, then the district meet, and fighting the best we can to have representation in the state meet. We want our kids to be improving, and that’s where coaching comes in. That’s our focus.

“The effort is unwavering, and it was there today,” continued Risser. “Six of our guys were running their first championship meet. And six of our eight were new to the starting line at the league meet. That’s awesome.”

“Seventh is good,” said Harnish. “I didn’t really know how I was going to do. My goal was to run my best time, and yeah, I got it. It means a lot to me.

“Yeah, it was a good year,” Harnish added. “All the years I ran, I wanted to be in the top 20 at counties. My goal for districts is to place in the top five.”

Fighting competitor congestion, Harnish got off to a bit of a slow start. But by the mile point, he had moved up among the top ten runners.

Harnish pretty much held his own from there, even gaining a little ground on the leaders over the last mile of the race.

“My goal was to go out hard, and yeah, it was a quick pace,” said Harnish. “Usually I don’t get out good. I get stuck in the back.

“I needed to be able to go out and hold with the pack,” Harnish added. “I wanted to be up with them for the first two miles. And I was able to do that.”

Five finishing spots behind Harnish, at number 12, Jesse Cruise kicked off the Falcon onslaught. Teammate Matt Royer was 18th, Falcon Adam Wolfe was 24th, then Crest’s Bryce Vukovich came in at 32nd and CC’s Luke Clarkson took number 37.

Derin Klick of Lebanon High collected a medal by finishing 20th overall.

“It really was a team effort,” said Risser. “To have three medalists is exciting. Matt Royer was a gutsy, gritty team leader. Adam Wole had a great day today. To be a league medalist, that’s awesome. And Luke Clarkson closed the door for us as our fifth man. That was fun.

“Yes, I thought we could have three medalists,” Risser continued. “It was a very realistic goal, and we achieved that. Our top three executed the race plan, and our four and five guys ran tough. But they’re hurting now.”

Risser’s improving Falcons raised some eyebrows when they didn’t send their top competitors to last month’s Lebanon County Cross Country Championships at South Hills Park. Cedar Crest opted instead to run at the Big Spring Invitational, which will play host to the District Three meet on October 31st.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever coached a more improved team,” said Risser. “At our September 8th season opener, we got smoked. Right then and there, it was the defining moment of where we wanted to go. I can’t say enough about how we’ve bounced back, and the character of the team.

“Yes, the success of the season is yet to be determined,” said Risser. “We’ve got to keep getting better. That’s the goal. The district meet is three days further back (than it usually is). It gives us more time, but it’s more important not to be satisfied. I’m excited.”

In the girls’ meet, Cedar Crest finished ninth out of the 20 teams which competed. Cate Strunk was the Falcons and Lebanon County’s top finisher with a 33rd-place showing.

To purchase images in this article email jkfalk2005@yahoo.com, or to see more go to www.http://lebanonsportsbuzz.com/gallery-nine/.

Annual Lancaster-Lebanon League

 Cross Country Championships

 (at Ephrata Middle School)

Boys’

Individual Results

1. Nathan Henderson, McC, 15:47.8. 2. Zach Lefever, Eph, 15:58.7. 3. Justin Yurchak, Hem, 16:05.0. 4. Nate Becker, Eph, 16:14.0. 5. Joel Burkholder, PM, 16:25.9. 6. Nick Norton, Hem, 16:27.3. 7. Jared Harnish, Elco, 16:35.9. 8. Coby Mattes, Hem, 16:36.7. 9. Brian Delany, MT, 16:39.9. 10. Rhett Hart, Eph, 16:42.2. 11. Doug Kramer, PM, 16:49.2. 12. Jesse Cruise, CC, 16:50.0. 13. Evan Kreider, Coc, 16:50.8. 14. Joey White, Hem, 16:52.4. 15. Malachi Lyon, PM, 16:57.2. 16. Liam Hodgson, Sol, 16:58.7. 17. Ray Reyes, McC, 16:59.0. 18. Matt Royer, CC, 17:00.8. 19. Christopher Scharf, Etown, 17:01.3. 20. Derin Klick, Leb, 17:03.1. 21. Christian Groff, Hem, 17:05.0. 22. Brady Lausch, 17:05.5. 23. Conrad Esbenshade, Etown, 17:06.3. 24. Adam Wolfe, CC, 17:07.5. 25. Patrick Willig, Hem, 17:09.0. 26. Max Lessans, Hem, 17:13.6.. 27. Sam Mancuso, GS, 17:16.5. 28. Galen Fitzkee, MC, 17:17.5. 29. Charles Scharf, Etown, 17:19.5. 30. Evan Trowbridge, Coc, 17:22.2. 32. Bryce Vukovich, CC, 17:30.6. 37. Luke Clarkson, CC, 17:41.9. 49. Ken Wallace, Coc, 17:57.5. 52. Anthony Frattarole, AC, 17:58.7. 53. Dylan Becker, Coc, 17:59.3. 58. Josh Rudd, CC, 18:04.8. 62. Simon Stull, Coc, 18:08.4. 64. Ryan Mcallister, Elco, 18:09.5. 66. Noah Bragunier, CC, 18:10.2. 75. Caleb Wenger, AC, 18:18.9. 78. Doyle Shertzer, AC, 18:22.3. 83. Jake Barrett, CC, 18:28.1. 89. Klayton Adams, NL, 18:37.7. 95. Daryl Werni, Leb, 18:41.9. 116. Hayden Taylor, AC, 19:03.4. 126. Alex Kudlanov, NL, 19:25.4. 128. William Fellows, NL, 19:30.2. 130. Jared Weaver, Elco, 19:34.5. 131. Jordan Berger, NL, 19:36.5. 136. Matthew Snyder, NL, 19:58.8. 142. Devin Root, Leb, 20:24.6. 146. Derek Bosworth, AC, 20:50.7. 147. Grant Brubaker, Elco, 20:53.2. 148. Matthew Hoffman, Leb, 20:55.1. 149. Jarrett Huber, NL, 21:01.2. 153. Sterling Hetrick, Elco, 21:23.3. 154. Chris Habowski, Elco, 21:24.0. 157. Hunter Hartrantf, Elco, 21:49.1. 158. Devin Tipton, NL, 22:02.7. 159. Matthew Mcdaniels, Leb, 22:04.0. 161. Shelby Bauer, AC, 22:36.2. 162. Preston Ceravalo, AC, 22:55.5. 163. Julio Liriano Sena, Leb, 23:48.6. 164. Jacob Beidler, NL, 24:11.8. 165. Brandon Velez, Leb, 25:35.8.

Team Results

1. Hempfield 52, 2. Penn Manor 117, 3. Cedar Crest 121, 4. McCaskey 131, 5. Ephrata 157, 6. Elizabethtown 162, 7. Cocalico 203, 8. Conestoga Valley 246, 9. Warwick 253, 10. Manheim Township 287, 11. Lancaster Catholic 305, 12. Manheim Central 317, 13. Solanco 353, 14. Garden Spot 355, 15. Lancaster Mennonite 363, 16. Annville-Cleona 443, 17. Elco 459, 18. Donegal 484, 19. Lampeter-Strasburg 511, 20. Lebanon 514, 21. Northern Lebanon 575.

Girls’

Individual results

1. Jamie Zamrin, Coc, 19:19.9. 2. Samantha Shields, War, 19:28.7. 3. Molly Conrad, Hem, 19:33.7. 4. Cat Shontz, Etown, 19:39.0. 5. Siena Gates, Hem, 19:39.3. 6. Kira Jenkins, MT, 19:39.6. 7. Cortney Johnson, Sol, 19:40.6. 8. Sami Stoner, Don, 19:40.8. 9. Sydney Morgan, Eph, 19:43.6. 10. Lianna Tirado, McC, 19:43.6. 11. Jordan Haberstroh, Col, 19:45.8. 12. Lindsey Lord, PM, 19:55.3. 13. Charis Dinger, MC, 19:58.6. 14. Alyssa Koser, MT, 20:02.4. 15. Haley Schaller, Eph, 20:10.3. 16. Cheyenne Hansen, GS, 20:13.8. 17. Hannah Dieterle, MT, 20:16.5. 18. Katelyn Deibler, Don, 20:20.2. 19. Ashley Spangler, LM, 20:21.7. 20. Rosemary Tuzzino, LaC, 20:23.2. 21. Nadine Eichenlaub, Eph, 20:24.0. 22. Paige Newman, MT, 20:24.8. 23. Emma Rogers, MT, 20:25.3. 24. Mallory Sunderland, MC, 20:26.2. 25. Isabella Fife, McC, 20:28.1. 26. Aurora Mussey, MT, 20:28.3. 27. Jasmine McClintock, LS, 20:28.4. 28. Morgan Perry, Sol, 20:45.8. 29. Seneca Straub, Don, 20:46.5. 30. Taylor Mahlandt, Eph, 20:49.3. 33. Cate Strunk, CC, 20:55.8. 47. Pam Wuori, CC, 21:41.6. 60. Mackenzie Shiner, CC, 22:08.2. 61. Ashley Stalnecker, CC, 22:10.2. 70. Krysta Weik, CC, 22:33.9. 76. Ashley Derr, Coc, 22:52.3. 77. Ashley Zimmerman, Coc, 22:52.3. 79. Elizabeth Nazeeri, CC, 22:59.6. 83. Kyla Waldron, CC, 23:00.4. 98. Hannah McCurdy, CC, 23:55.1. 100. Sarah Domencic, AC, 23:56.9. 102. Zoee Garis, AC, 23:59.3. 105. Zoe Sweigert, AC, 24:12.0. 109. Hannah Rich, Elco, 24:21.6. 113. Charley Darkes, NL, 24:59.2. 115. Maddie Mattern, Leb, 25:00.9. 116. Danielle Nelson, Elco, 25:01.8. 121. Madisyn Breiner, NL, 25:29.8. 124. Drashti Patel, NL, 25:36.7. 129. Erin Ditzler, NL, 25:55.2. 130. Bethany Wenger, Coc, 25:57.2. 131. Vicci Janke, Coc, 25:57.6. 136. Damaris Kreiser, Leb, 26:31.6. 133. Maddy Hartman, Leb, 25:30.8. 138. Regan Logdahl, Elco, 26:59.1. 139. Angie Fair, AC, 27:12.4. 141. Jalissa Nolt, Elco, 27:57.6. 142. Shaylin Youman, NL, 28:31.1. 143. Katia Luu, AC, 29:14.5. 144. Brenna Troutman, Elco, 29:15.7. 145. Megan Werni, Leb, 29:37.0. 148. Lydia Fair, AC, 31:19.6.

Team Results

1. Manheim Township 78, 2. Hempfield 115, 3. Donegal 130, 4. Ephrata 135, 5. McCaskey 163, 6. Manheim Central 205, 7. Lampeter-Strasburg 211, 8. Solanco 227, 9. Cedar Crest 259, 10. Lancaster Catholic 264, 11. Garden Spot 277, 12. Warwick 314, 13. Conestoga Valley 319, 14. Penn Manor 340, 15. Elizabethtown 364, 16. Lancaster Mennonite 383, 17. Cocalico 385, 18. Annville-Cleona 540, 19. Northern Lebanon 574, 20. Elco 587.