Three county runners qualify for PIAA cross country finals
West Greene's McKenna Lampe nears the finish line during Thursday's WPIAL Class A Cross Country Championships Thursday at Cooper's Lake Campground.
West Greene's Madison Lampe runs the home stretch during the girls WPIAL Class A Cross Country Championships Thursday at Cooper's Lake Campground.
Waynesburg Central's Lindsee Zimmer competes in the girls WPIAL Class AA Cross Country Championships Thursday at Cooper's Lake Campground.
SLIPPERY ROCK — Waynesburg Central’s Ben Bumgarner and Cade Rush and West Greene’s McKenna Lampe extended their cross country seasons by placing in last Thursday’s WPIAL Cross Country Championships at Cooper’s Lake Campground near Slippery Rock.
All three earned berths into Saturday’s PIAA Cross Country Championships.
Bumgarner expected to be up near overall winner Zach Skolnekovich of Quaker Valley, but the Waynesburg junior was a bit disappointed with his seventh-place finish in 16:53 for a medal and second trip to the state meet.
“It was not an ideal race. I had a bad day,” said Bumgarner. “I felt a little off from the start. I wasn’t moving as I normally do. I was second at around the 1½-mile mark, but I started to fall off after that.
“I ran here earlier (in the season) in the Slippery Rock Invitational and finished in 16:40. (The time) 16:40 won last year. I thought I could wind it up, but didn’t have it.”
Bumgarner also had breathing issues because of the wind.
“The wind hit me in the face. I couldn’t breathe. I turned my head so I could breathe,” said Bumgarner.
Though disappointed he didn’t place higher, Bumgarner met his goal.
“I’m happy to make states. Just to qualify was the goal,” said Bumgarner, adding about the state meet, “I’m going to try to go top 10. I know I’m really fit right now.”
While Bumgarner was sure of his berth into the Class AA state meet, Rush was not. He grabbed the 15th and final non-qualifying team berth in 29th place with a time of 18:10.
Rush was pleasantly surprised when he was told of his good fortune.
“I was 106th last year and 29th this year. I improved almost 80 places,” said the smiling sophomore. “I was trying to count how many schools were ahead of me. I knew it would be close.
“The wind was a killer. I couldn’t breathe at all.”
Lampe, a freshman, became the second West Greene girl to advance to the state meet after she finished 18th in Class A with a time of 21:34.
“I was trying to get under 21 (minutes),” said Lampe, whose twin sister Madison finished 30th. “I worked on gaining speed going around the turns.”
Lampe, too, had something to say about the gusty conditions.
“The wind was bad going up the hills,” said Lampe.
NOTES: Jefferson-Morgan’s Aaron Mylan was in the mix through the first 2,000 meters of the boys race, but took a spill and fell back. Apparently injuring his right hip, Mylan gutted through the remainder of the race to finish 130th overall in 21:19. … Waynesburg Central’s Lindsee Zimmer finished 65th overall in the girls Class AA race with a time of 23:33.