BY JEFF FALK

EPHRATA – The body is a biological, genetic and medical miracle. But not without its limitations.

Do you know what doesn’t have limitations? The mind!

On an unseasonably warm Tuesday evening, during the annual contesting of the Lancaster-Lebanon League Cross Country Championships at Ephrata Middle School, the Cedar Crest boys discovered a certain harmony between mind and body. Working hard and working smart, the Falcons employed a cerebral approach to finish in a surprising tie for second among boys teams.

The Falcons scored 91 points, a total that was runner-up only to champion Manheim Central, which counted 61 points. Cedar Crest finished in a tie with Hempfield, a squad which had bested it during the regular season.

Showing the way for the Falcons was senior Jesse Cruise. Cruise covered the 3.1-mile course in 17:05.7 and came in tenth among individuals, just ahead of junior teammate Adam Wolfe.

“In a sport like this, there are no timeouts,” said Cedar Crest head coach Brandon Risser. “You can’t make adjustments in the middle of the race. It’s a lot up here (between the ears). This sport is so mental. The mind runs the body. You’ve got to be mentally sharp to be physically sharp.

“We train hard. We work hard,” Risser continued. “I think we’ve got some state qualifiers on this team. But that remains to be seen. It’s a total lifestyle. It’s about the 22 hours outside of practice. Sometimes the guys over think things, and  I play to talk to them about that.”

“This year, I’ve tried to race more for the team because I’m a captain,” said Cruise. “It’s definitely motivation. Today I was focused more on the team aspect.

“I definitely want us to learn from things,” added Cruise. “I think we can get better before next Saturday (at the District Three Championships).”

McCaskey senior Nathan Henderson captured the boys’ race in dominating fashion, running a blistering 15:37 that was some 31 seconds faster than runner-up Zach Lefever of Ephrata.

Running with Wolfe by his side almost the entire way, Cruise got off to a strong start and finished well. But he fell short of his goal of running with the lead group.

Lebanon High senior and current Lebanon County champion Derin Klick came in 16th, with a time of 17:23.3.

“I felt fine,” said Cruise, who also stars on the track for the Falcons in the spring. “I don’t think the race went the way I wanted it to. I didn’t finish the way I wanted to.

“I wanted to keep myself in contention,” continued Cruise, “but I don’t think I wanted to go out that hard. I wanted to be more conservative. I think overall the heat affected us and our times. But I definitely think you see people who you want to finish near.”

“I thought he ran a strong race,” said Risser of Cruise. “But he needs to get a little stronger from the mile-and-a-half mark to the two-and-a-quarter-mile mark. If he could just get through it, I know he has the speed to finish. But he battled back well.

“The race broke apart in the second mile,” Risser added. “If you let the race go, you may get one or two back, but you’re not going to get everybody back.”

Supporting Cruise and Wolfe were Falcon teammates Jake Barrett, who ran 20th and Noah Bragunier, who came in 24th. Devyn Stumpf was the Cedar Crest’s fifth counter and finished 26th.

“At the Carlisle Invitational, we got beat by Hempfield and Manheim Central, and based on what I saw the rest of the season, I was confident we would finish in the top three,” said Risser. “If we ran our best race, I thought we had a chance to be in the top two. It was a strong finish. Today we had four runners in the top 24.

“It’s a sport where it’s hard to get eight guys feeling great on the same day,” Risser added.

“I was 12th last year and tenth this year, but I ran faster last year,” said Cruise, who was competing without his signature ‘mohawk’ hairstyle. “I definitely prefer track and field. I feel like I’m better at track. But I do enjoy cross country. There’s more of a team aspect to it.”

In the girls’ competition, Lebanon County reigning champion and Elco sophomore Lily Brubaker was the only local to cop a medal. Brubaker took 19th with a time of 20:24.7.

Cate Struck was Cedar Crest’s top finisher by coming in 33rd. The Falcons came in seventh in the team competition, one that was won easily by Manheim Township.

Jamie Zamrin of Cocalico captured the girls’ race with a 19:07.6.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Lancaster-Lebanon League

 Cross Country Championships

 (at Ephrata Middle School’s 3.1-mile course)

 Boys’ Individual Results

1. Nathan Henderson, J.P. McCaskey, 15:57.3

2. Zach Lefever, Ephrata, 16:28.3

3. Nick Norton, Hempfield (3), 16:34.8

4. Ian Lauver, Manheim Central, 16:46.4

5. Christian Groff, Hempfield (3), 16:50.6

6. Christopher Scharf, Elizabethtown Area, 16:52.0

7. Doug Kramer, Penn Manor, 16:54.0

8. Max Lessans, Hempfield (3), 16:57.9

9. Cole Sunderland, Manheim Central, 17:02.6

10. Jesse Cruise, Cedar Crest, 17:05.7

11. Adam Wolfe, Cedar Crest, 17:06.5

12. David Merkey, Manheim Central, 17:11.4

13. Galen Fitzkee, Manheim Central, 17:14.6

14. Charles Scharf, Elizabethtown Area, 17:20.2

15. Andrew Foster, Ephrata, 17:21.7

16. Derin Klick, Lebanon, 17:23.3

17. Connor Shields, Warwick, 17:27.7

18. Malachi Lyon, Penn Manor, 17:28.9

19. Dylan Becker, Cocalico, 17:28.9

20. Jake Barrett, Cedar Crest, 17:29.2

21. Evan Trowbridge, Cocalico, 17:29.4

22. Danny Bowman, Conestoga Valley, 17:30.9

23. Carson Hepner, Manheim Central, 17:34.5

24. Noah Bragunier, Cedar Crest, 17:35.1

25. Silas Buckwalter, Donegal, 17:39.7

26. Devyn Stump, Cedar Crest, 17:45.0

27. Anthony Tirado, J.P. McCaskey, 17:45.6

28. Miles McCaskey, Lancaster Catholic, 17:47.9

29. Owen Wallace, J.P. McCaskey, 17:48.7

30. Ryan Farmer, Hempfield (3), 17:49.7

31. Phillip Wenger, Ephrata, 17:54.7

32. Ryan Mcallister, Eastern Lebanon County, 17:55.3

33. Dan Main, Cocalico, 17:57.5

34. Nicholas Gerencser, Warwick, 17:58.9

35. William Sheffield, Cedar Crest, 18:01.2

36. Nick Haughery, Conestoga Valley, 18:01.5

37. Dylan Mehler, Cedar Crest, 18:02.3

38. Jesse Myers, Elizabethtown Area, 18:02.8

39. Nat McCloud, Elizabethtown Area, 18:06.3

40. Zach Schucker, Penn Manor, 18:06.9

41. David Hendrix, Warwick, 18:07.1

42. Nathan Grucelski, Conestoga Valley, 18:08.5

43. Aidan Toomey, Penn Manor, 18:08.8

44. Zachary Beale, Warwick, 18:08.9

45. Daniel Forry, Hempfield (3), 18:09.5

46. Seth Bollinger, Ephrata, 18:14.5

47. Timothy Antonnacci, Manheim Township, 18:16.0

48. Dylan Roeder, Hempfield (3), 18:17.8

49. Jeremiah Hendrix, Warwick, 18:19.1

50. Noah Pritchard, Lampeter Strasburg, 18:19.4

51. Nicholas Fafel, Penn Manor, 18:21.6

52. Nick Card, Lancaster Catholic, 18:24.2

53. Dom Messano, Solanco, 18:25.3

54. Patrick Willig, Hempfield (3), 18:27.5

55. Jordan Berger, Northern Lebanon, 18:28.1

56. Simon Stull, Cocalico, 18:28.5

57. Jeremy Bell, Warwick, 18:28.6

58. Parker Keares, Warwick, 18:30.5

59. Kellan Swarr, Ephrata, 18:31.4

60. Jose Galarza, J.P. McCaskey, 18:36.5

61. Erik Juengling, J.P. McCaskey, 18:40.9

62. Sean Springer, Annville-Cleona, 18:43.6

63. Jeffrey Campagna, Lancaster Catholic, 18:48.1

64. Daryl Werni, Lebanon, 18:49.0

65. Michael Kuhns, Lampeter Strasburg, 18:49.8

66. Klayton Adams, Northern Lebanon, 18:52.6

67. Brandon Griest, Manheim Central, 18:52.8

68. Tanyon Loose, Ephrata, 18:53.4

69. Alec Munro, Solanco, 18:54.6

70. Eli Skacel, Manheim Township, 18:55.4

71. Preston Brubaker, Conestoga Valley, 18:55.7

72. Jansen Miller, Lampeter Strasburg, 19:00.6

73. Josh Rudd, Cedar Crest, 19:01.3

74. Drayk Cassamajor, Warwick, 19:01.4

75. Doyle Shertzer, Annville-Cleona, 19:01.7

76. Coby Mattes, Hempfield (3), 19:02.0

77. Luke Adams, Elizabethtown Area, 19:02.5

78. Cole Nelson, Eastern Lebanon County, 19:04.2

79. Levi Brooks, Eastern Lebanon County, 19:07.4

80. Max McCormack, Cocalico, 19:09.7

81. Connor Sylvester, Manheim Central, 19:11.2

82. Schlager Andrew, J.P. McCaskey, 19:12.4

83. David Kramer, Penn Manor, 19:13.3

84. Dylan Zuch, Donegal, 19:14.0

85. Christian Rodriquez, J.P. McCaskey, 19:18.0

86. Evan Lyan, Penn Manor, 19:18.5

87. Juan Bermudez, Cocalico, 19:18.7

88. Jason Trimble, Elizabethtown Area, 19:18.7

89. Aran Mullen, Donegal, 19:18.8

90. Ben Stickler, Solanco, 19:19.6

91. Everett Honert, Lampeter Strasburg, 19:20.6

92. Gavin Knox, Annville-Cleona, 19:20.8

93. Jarrid McKenzie, Manheim Township, 19:24.1

94. Zain Bhaila, Manheim Township, 19:25.8

95. Robert Cossgrove, Ephrata, 19:27.2

96. Hayden Taylor, Annville-Cleona, 19:27.3

97. Riley Horton, Manheim Township, 19:27.5

98. Anthony Frattarole, Annville-Cleona, 19:28.7

99. Brandon Roe, Lancaster Mennonite, 19:28.9

100. Chance Leed, Eastern Lebanon County, 19:29.4

101. Julio Pachardo, J.P. McCaskey, 19:31.3

102. Mitch Detwiler, Manheim Township, 19:32.5

103. Matthew Turoczi, Conestoga Valley, 19:35.0

104. Chris Habowski, Eastern Lebanon County, 19:41.1

105. Jacob Dissinger, Conestoga Valley, 19:41.2

106. Jared Chin, Lampeter Strasburg, 19:44.3

107. Keith Atayde, Donegal, 19:46.3

108. Conner Babinchak, Elizabethtown Area, 19:47.1

109. Zachary Leaman, Conestoga Valley, 19:48.3

110. Jotham Ngarama, Lancaster Catholic, 19:49.5

111. Terry Dylan, Penn Manor, 19:50.4

112. Thomas Sellers, Lampeter Strasburg, 19:50.8

113. Colin Althoff, Solanco, 19:51.1

114. Connor Neaves, Solanco, 19:55.4

115. Mike Ward, Ephrata, 19:57.8

116. Alex Kudlanov, Northern Lebanon, 19:59.1

117. Tyler Moore, Lancaster Catholic, 19:59.9

118. David Helms, Lampeter Strasburg, 20:06.1

119. Jack Emrey, Conestoga Valley, 20:08.2

120. Ethan Fortuna, Annville-Cleona, 20:08.8

121. Jackson Eby, Lancaster Mennonite, 20:10.2

122. Chris Martin, Lancaster Catholic, 20:11.1

123. Jacob Hess, Donegal, 20:11.7

124. Isaac Martin, Manheim Central, 20:12.5

125. Matt Strosser, Lancaster Catholic, 20:13.7

126. Konrad Martin, Lancaster Mennonite, 20:14.2

127. Mark Whitfield, Garden Spot, 20:17.1

128. Sam Lobeck, Lancaster Catholic, 20:18.8

129. Patrick Workman, Solanco, 20:19.6

130. Riley Klick, Lebanon, 20:22.8

131. Ebenezear Abebe, Lancaster Mennonite, 20:24.1

132. Anier Caldwell-Bro, Lebanon, 20:24.8

133. Josh Long, Manheim Township, 20:32.1

134. Josiah Zehr, Lampeter Strasburg, 20:33.5

135. Jeremy Rissler, Garden Spot, 20:33.9

136. Caleb Wenger, Annville-Cleona, 20:39.4

137. Cody Caterbury, Donegal, 20:41.5

138. Tate Fisher, Solanco, 20:42.6

139. Brandon Bomberger, Northern Lebanon, 20:51.5

140. Elliot Kline, Elizabethtown Area, 20:55.8

141. Ty Palfi, Lancaster Mennonite, 20:58.2

142. Sterling Hetrick, Eastern Lebanon County, 21:02.3

143. Earl Pyles, Northern Lebanon, 21:03.5

144. Nathan Smucker, Garden Spot, 21:03.6

145. Chadman Martin, Lancaster Mennonite, 21:07.4

146. Austin Redcay, Eastern Lebanon County, 21:11.3

147. Jared Hoober, Lancaster Mennonite, 21:19.2

148. Hunter Hartrantf, Eastern Lebanon County, 21:22.1

149. Adam Burkholder, Donegal, 21:31.3

150. Zac Nikolaus, Columbia, 21:35.5

151. Matthew Inman, Annville-Cleona, 21:38.1

152. Ian Brown, Solanco, 21:40.8

153. Kirkl Hammil-Torre, Columbia, 22:01.1

154. Brandon Hess, Donegal, 22:09.2

155. Devin Root, Lebanon, 22:12.2

156. Matthew Hoffman, Lebanon, 22:32.7

157. Dustin Varvel, Northern Lebanon, 22:45.5

158. Jarod Snader, Cocalico, 22:50.7

159. Jimi Griffith, Columbia, 22:51.4

160. Dante Diangelis, Northern Lebanon, 23:09.9

161. Xavier Jackson, Columbia, 23:26.8

162. Patrick Bray, Lebanon, 23:29.2

163. Jake Musselman, Cocalico, 23:34.8

164. Scottie Porter, Lebanon, 23:35.9

165. Hyunghyun Kim, Lancaster Mennonite, 23:40.5

166. Gage Krall, Northern Lebanon, 23:46.0

167. Simon Taylor, Garden Spot, 23:47.9

168. Ryan Ault, Columbia, 23:55.3

Girls’ Individual Results

1. Jamie Zamrin, Cocalico, 19:07.6

2. Katie Locker, Elizabethtown Area, 19:11.3

3. Kira Jenkins, Manheim Township, 19:23.4

4. Cheyenne Hansen, Garden Spot, 19:32.0

5. Mackenzie Watkins, Garden Spot, 19:34.2

6. Lianna Tirado, J.P. McCaskey, 19:45.6

7. Cat Shontz, Elizabethtown Area, 19:50.0

8. Siena Gates, Hempfield (3), 20:03.3

9. Jordan Haberstroh, Columbia, 20:08.5

10. Leah Sassaman, Manheim Township, 20:08.6

11. Mary Campbell, Ephrata, 20:09.1

12. Lindsey Lord, Penn Manor, 20:09.6

13. Samantha Side, Manheim Township, 20:18.1

14. Mallory Sunderland, Manheim Central, 20:19.7

15. Kate Weissend, Elizabethtown Area, 20:22.4

16. Ava Pasewicz, Manheim Township, 20:22.4

17. Jasmine McClintock, Lampeter Strasburg, 20:23.1

18. Ella Kielmeyer, Hempfield (3), 20:24.2

19. Lily Brubaker, Eastern Lebanon County, 20:24.7

20. Hannah Dieterle, Manheim Township, 20:35.2

21. Haley Schaller, Ephrata, 20:40.6

22. Kelsey Kimmel, Lampeter Strasburg, 20:44.0

23. Isabella Fife, J.P. McCaskey, 20:44.0

24. Nadine Eichenlaub, Ephrata, 20:45.5

25. Katie Larkin, J.P. McCaskey, 20:52.8

26. Cassandra Wilk, Manheim Township, 20:54.5

27. Sydney Morgan, Ephrata, 21:03.0

28. Caitlyn Wagner, Warwick, 21:05.8

29. Hannah Steckbeck, Lancaster Mennonite, 21:08.9

30. Madison Mccanna, Penn Manor, 21:12.8

31. Alexandra Slingluff, Conestoga Valley, 21:14.8

32. Kara Allison, Hempfield (3), 21:14.9

33. Cate Strunk, Cedar Crest, 21:17.5

34. Erin Donovan, Hempfield (3), 21:28.4

35. Kavita Bushong, Hempfield (3), 21:29.6

36. Natalie Gillesse, Hempfield (3), 21:33.5

37. Lauryn Hall, Conestoga Valley, 21:35.0

38. Andrea Funk, Penn Manor, 21:36.7

39. Cortney Johnson, Solanco, 21:36.9

40. Colleen Gilbert, Lampeter Strasburg, 21:37.0

41. Courtney Schrom, Ephrata, 21:37.6

42. Madeline Helm, Lampeter Strasburg, 21:39.4

43. Ashley Stalnecker, Cedar Crest, 21:40.3

44. Morgan Perry, Solanco, 21:42.0

45. Seneca Straub, Donegal, 21:47.8

46. Mayelin Santiago, J.P. McCaskey, 21:50.8

47. Shayla Bonzelet, Cedar Crest, 21:53.0

48. Rachelle Tejeda, J.P. McCaskey, 21:56.7

49. Anabelle Lapp, Manheim Township, 21:59.0

50. Taylor Laliberte, Cedar Crest, 22:01.2

51. Hannah Sweda, Solanco, 22:02.2

52. Marianne Fitzkee, Manheim Central, 22:04.6

53. Deirdre White, Warwick, 22:07.5

54. Mia Reigert, Cedar Crest, 22:07.5

55. Malayna Van Winkle, Elizabethtown Area, 22:10.6

56. Nicole Moldenhauer, Manheim Township, 22:12.6

57. Mary Zukus, Lancaster Catholic, 22:14.4

58. Becca Rissler, Garden Spot, 22:16.0

59. Kaila Burkholder, Conestoga Valley, 22:20.5

60. Abby Gordley, Lampeter Strasburg, 22:30.9

61. Jenna Denlinger, Conestoga Valley, 22:36.6

62. Aubree Roop, Solanco, 22:42.4

63. Sierra Zimmerman, Ephrata, 22:43.1

64. Bella Hollenbach, Hempfield (3), 22:43.7

65. Liz Bierly, Hempfield (3), 22:45.2

66. Olivia Gard, Lampeter Strasburg, 22:47.0

67. Katherine Chapman, Warwick, 22:52.4

68. Jaylyn Wagner, Warwick, 22:53.8

69. Bollinger Aspen, Manheim Central, 22:56.3

70. Alyssa Cunningham, Lampeter Strasburg, 22:58.7

71. Kyra Buettner, Elizabethtown Area, 23:08.6

72. Kate Snader, Conestoga Valley, 23:15.3

73. Elizabeth Nazeeri, Cedar Crest, 23:16.1

74. Kirsten Espenshade, Warwick, 23:19.5

75. Hailey Welchans, Lampeter Strasburg, 23:21.1

76. Mary Connolly, Lancaster Catholic, 23:22.9

77. Mary Tshudy, Annville-Cleona, 23:25.5

78. Brianna Ulaky, Penn Manor, 23:28.3

79. Faith Coblentz, Garden Spot, 23:30.2

80. Elizabeth Martin, Ephrata, 23:32.2

81. Jillian Colbert, Warwick, 23:32.5

82. Sarah Bustillo, Penn Manor, 23:35.7

83. Ella DeBruin, Donegal, 23:44.9

84. Brianna Seip, Northern Lebanon, 23:46.5

85. Sarah Sweda, Solanco, 23:52.3

86. Kaylee Altimore, Elizabethtown Area, 23:57.9

87. Emily Williams, Eastern Lebanon County, 24:03.0

88. Alexis Barge, Warwick, 24:04.2

89. Miranda Nagle, Donegal, 24:10.3

90. McKenzie DuBusky, Donegal, 24:13.4

91. Katherine Fowler, Conestoga Valley, 24:16.5

92. Libby Sullivan, Penn Manor, 24:20.9

93. Karissa Herr, Elizabethtown Area, 24:25.1

94. Hannah McCurdy, Cedar Crest, 24:31.0

95. Jessie Lloyd, Elizabethtown Area, 24:31.6

96. Jessica Gutekunst, Annville-Cleona, 24:32.0

97. Krysta Weik, Cedar Crest, 24:33.7

98. Yarilis Ramirez, J.P. McCaskey, 24:37.3

99. Megan Myers, Donegal, 24:40.9

100. Laura Snader, Garden Spot, 24:43.9

101. Hannah Wheeler, Solanco, 24:44.2

102. Sara Holtz, Ephrata, 24:44.3

103. Ashley Spangler, Lancaster Mennonite, 24:48.6

104. Ashley Derr, Cocalico, 24:52.4

105. Erika Schell, Donegal, 24:54.0

106. Makenzie Shirk, Donegal, 25:05.8

107. Alaina Fithian, Garden Spot, 25:23.4

108. Rachel Fulford, Garden Spot, 25:32.3

109. Jalissa Nolt, Eastern Lebanon County, 25:33.4

110. Lauren Mills, Lancaster Catholic, 25:35.4

111. Anna Hawbaker, Donegal, 25:36.4

112. Drashti Patel, Northern Lebanon, 26:01.2

113. Kayla Eller, Manheim Central, 26:12.2

114. Zoe Sweigert, Annville-Cleona, 26:12.5

115. Savannah Mead, Conestoga Valley, 26:18.0

116. Jaya Hackman, Eastern Lebanon County, 26:22.8

117. Tara Sang Kauffman, Lancaster Mennonite, 26:26.6

118. Veronica Ringlein, Lancaster Catholic, 26:34.6

119. Leah Bowman, Lancaster Mennonite, 26:39.1

120. Zoee Garis, Annville-Cleona, 26:53.2

121. Katie Hyrb, Lancaster Catholic, 27:03.1

122. Denise Brenneman, Solanco, 27:12.0

123. Mathilda Zartman, Warwick, 27:22.5

124. Erin Ditzler, Northern Lebanon, 27:45.1

125. Autumn Boxlietner, Solanco, 27:47.9

126. Shakira Lopez, Lebanon, 27:55.9

127. Julia Underkoffler, Eastern Lebanon County, 28:04.2

128. Sarah Domencic, Annville-Cleona, 29:05.9

129. Danielle Nelson, Eastern Lebanon County, 29:11.4

130. Shaylin Youman, Northern Lebanon, 30:35.2

131. Alena Clatterbuck, Lancaster Mennonite, 30:49.3

132. Maddie Smith, Lancaster Catholic, 31:25.6

133. Fiona St Clair, Lancaster Mennonite, 31:35.8

134. Jade Oluleye, Lancaster Mennonite, 31:38.8

135. Amanda Rhoads, Annville-Cleona, 31:50.2