Pennridge sweeps past Souderton
The Pennridge girls cross country team displayed its strength up front and the Rams boys got a gutsy effort from the back of its pack as both squads earned a victory over rival Souderton Area Wednesday afternoon.
Caitlin Sheva and Marissa 6KHvD FrRssHG WKH finLsK OLnH side by side to go one and two in the girls race, as the Rams won 23-33, and the Pennridge boys took six of the top nine spots to key a 24-33 victory in the Suburban One League Continental Conference matchup.
“Caitlin and I decided that we were just going to run to win so we just went out with the top Souderton girls until we felt good and then we just decided to take it,” Marissa Sheva said. “We kind of just chilled for the rest of the race.”
The Rams took the top three spots, including Natalie Marmol’s third-place finLsK Ln 21:19. 3HnnrLGJH showed plenty of speed on the fast Souderton course.
“,W’s sR flDW KHrH FRPSDrHG to ours,” Marissa Sheva said. “I love it.”
The Indians got a solid performance from their pack, actually placing their fiIWK runnHr EHIRrH 3Hnnridge’s. Sarah eughes and Reaghan Murphy led the BLJ 5HG, finLsKLnJ MusW D sHFRnG DSDrW Ln IRurWK DnG fiIWK.
“We had some good times. I was pleased, but I was hoping we would get over the hump,” Indians coach Jim O’Neill said. “We want to beat some of these top-level teams and we had a shot today, but we didn’t quite get it done. We needed to break up that top three. We knew we weren’t going to beat the Shevas. The goal was to beat their number three and four runners, and we were close, but we didn’t quite get it done today.”
The Pennridge guys, de-
spite missing two runners to illness, battled their way past the Big Red.
“Souderton’s a good team, and with those two guys missing, we knew this was going to be close,” Rams coach Terry Permar said. “The back end came WhrRugh. 2ur IRurWh, fiIWh and sixth runners did a real good job. I’m really happy with the way the guys are performing - their enthusiasm and their attitude is real good. We’re in a good place right now.”
-RrGan HaOWePan, (rLF McGarry and Phil Gunderson all ran hard for the Rams, placing seventh, eighth and ninth to lock up the win. The trio was just eight seconds apart.
Souderton’s Connor Linse took top honors, winning the ERyV raFe Ln 16:57, IROORweG Ey 3ennrLGge’V -Rey LRgue, Matt Schulberger and Mike Tatarowicz in second, third and fourth.
Souderton will be hosting its invitational on Saturday. The varsity events go off at 5:45 anG 6:30 Ln a SaLr RI
twilight races.