The GFS Boys’ Cross Country team won its 4th consecutive PA Independent Schools State Championship on Saturday, October 31st at Mercersburg Academy. The Tigers scored 28 points to outdistance Episcopal Academy, who finished 2nd with 100 points. (Had the GFS JV team been able to compete in the varsity race, the Tigers JV team would have placed second overall with 107 points besting Episcopal Academy with 115 points.)
Leading the way for GFS was senior Gus McKenzie who won the individual title in 16 minutes and 21 seconds. Gus and former teammate Max Kaulbach (2006 and 2007) are the only two Tigers to win the individual title. Ross Wistar (5th, 16:49), Tom Waterman (6th, 16:53), and Evan Caldwell (7th, 17:02) all claimed first team All Independent State honors with their performances. Senior Sam Butler placed 9th overall in 17:29 to earn 2nd team All Independent State honors. Rounding out the top 7 for GFS were juniors Cameron Mactavish (18th, 17:59) and Zhewen Zhang (21st, 18:06).
In the JV race, GFS swept the top 7 places to score a perfect 15 points and win their 3rd consecutive title. Sophomore Nick Dye won the race in 17:48 while junior Henry Blood took 2nd overall in 17:58. Rounding out the top 5 scorers for GFS were Charles Diaz (3rd, 18:00), Reuben Wilson (4th, 18:06), and Graham Barrett (5th, 18:13). Sam Korus (6th, 18:24) and Sam Ebert (7th, 18:26) completied the top 7 sweep. Other standout performances included junior Ian Longshore (10th, 18:45), junior Charles McClelland (11th, 18:52), and freshman Henry Shah (26th, 20:03).
The Tigers will look to qualify for nationals at the Nike Northeast Regional on November 28th in Poughkeepsie, NY. The top 2 teams from each region and 4 national at large teams receive an automatic berth to Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, OR on December 5th.
Complete results can be found at: http://runhigh.com/2009%20WEB%20RESULTS/R103109CA.html