Oct 30, 2009 By Jim Downey 2 min read

SLIPPERY ROCK – Hoping to reverse the disappointment of a bizarre sequence of events that cost her a berth into the 2008 state meet, Waynesburg Central’s Peyton Hampson was just where she needed to be with two miles to go. Then, something went wrong.

Hampson collapsed after completing the 5K course around the grounds of Cooper’s Lake Campground Thursday afternoon, the home of the WPIAL Cross Country Championships. But, the problems started long before she finished a surprising 138th with a time of 25:30.

Hampson suffered from severe dehydration, so instead of taking her expected place on the Class AA awards podium, the sophomore was removed by ambulance for a trip to the hospital.

“Peyton suffered from severe dehydration. They weren’t able to get a pulse (as paramedics worked on her after the race),” explained Waynesburg Central coach Duane Bowers. “She doesn’t remember anything after the first mile and until 2 1/2 hours after the race.

“We’ve been trying to work (on her hydration).”

When asked how Hampson was able to run the final two miles in such a physical state, Bowers said, “Just sheer drive.”

Hampson was running the race just as Bowers had mapped it out.

“She was right on target in the first mile at 6:30 (pace). She was at 14:00 at two miles, and I knew something was up. She dropped back.”

In the 2008 championships, Hampson thought she had secured the final berth into the PIAA Championships after she crossed the finish line. Soon after, though, it was discovered a girl finished ahead of her with her “championship chip,” used for timing, in her hand and the bar coded didn’t register. A check of the video confirmed her finish, thus pushing Hampson out of the state meet.

Hampson was permitted to go home after treatment at the hospital.

Hampson’s teammate Mary Kate Rush was close to earning one of the Class AA qualifying berths. The junior finished 43rd overall (and 41st for team scoring) in a time of 22:17, 24 seconds behind South Park’s Missy Scandrol for the 32nd and final berth into the state meet.