Oct 24, 2003 By Jim Downey 4 min read

SLIPPERY ROCK – Kenny King not only discovered he could run with the big dogs Thursday afternoon in the WPIAL Boys Class AAA Cross Country Championships at Slippery Rock University, the Connellsville junior might just be one of the big dogs after his third-place finish. While on the subject of dogs, the Southmoreland contingent wasn’t surprised that Nick Barron and Steve Imel both medalled, but news that the Scotties qualified for the PIAA Class AA Boys Championship sent shock waves all the way through to longtime coach Don Gilpin.

Connellsville’s Nick Bailey, Larry Brink of Laurel Highlands, and Waynesburg Central’s Jack Haines also qualified for the PIAA Boys Championships in Hershey on Saturday, Nov. 1.

The boys Class AAA race was to showcase Mt. Lebanon’s James O’Toole and Ian Fitzgerald of North Hills, but King threw himself into the mix early, hanging on with the pair for nearly two miles before the trio separated. O’Toole held on for first in 15:36 and Fitzgerald was second in 16:01 with King closing fast in third with a time of 16:07.

“At the start, (Coach) Joe (Siecinski) had a plan to go with Fitzgerald and O’Toole, and try to hang on,” said King, who acknowledged he read about how the race was supposed to be O’Toole and Fitzgerald. “About 2¼ miles in, O’Toole really went. I looked back at the 2-mile mark and saw I had a nice lead over fourth and fifth place. I told myself to keep this pace and try to pick it up a little bit.

“I looked up front (on the home stretch) and saw Fitzgerald. He tried to push. He was dying. I could feel I was gaining on him. Another 100 meters and I might have taken him.”

The weather was brutal compared to what it has been with temperatures in the low 40s and a strong wind.

“It was cold. I never got warm. My legs went numb near the end of the race,” King said, whose Falcons placed ninth in the team standings. “I’m surprised with 16:07. I’m real happy.”

Like King, Barron found himself among the leaders halfway through the race, much to his surprise. The sophomore slipped a bit in the final mile to finish eighth with a time of 17:30.

“I was just going. I was nice and warm,” Barron said. “I was fourth at the 2-mile mark, but I got passed down to the finish line and finished eighth. I heard the Greensburg Central Catholic runner coming. I was trying to pull it out of somewhere. I told myself ‘I can’t let him pass me.'”

Barron was the one passing the news the Scots had qualified, adding, “I can’t believe we made it as a team.”

Imel was 18th in a time of 17:53. The early pace was faster than Imel wanted.

“It was real quick. It was a fast field. It surprised me,” Imel said. “In the last mile, I picked people off one by one. I wanted to make it (to states). I knew I could stay in 20-something and qualify, but I didn’t want to take the chance.”

Bailey and Brink just missed the Class AAA medal stand, but crossed the line within five seconds of each other. Bailey was 23rd in 17:08 with Brink qualifying in 24th.

“I went out 20 seconds faster (in the first mile) than I’ve run before,” Bailey said. “This is my last race. That went through my mind. I wasn’t thinking about a medal, just about qualifying. It probably cost me a medal.”

Brink was able to hear reports of his standing from Laurel Highlands coach Bob Costello and spectators around the course so he knew where he stood coming down the stretch.

“I heard Mr. Costello yelling through the whole race. It was real close in the last mile. I just wanted to hold on,” Brink said. “I was hoping for a medal, but I knew what I had to do.”

Haines just missed grabbing a medal, placing 21st in the Class AA race in a time of 18:04.

“This is the strongest I’ve ever run. It was a really fast start for me,” said Haines. “I really wanted to go to states. I’m surprised. I thought I’d have a 50-50 chance. I’m satisfied.”

Albert Gallatin’s Pat Reagan was in the mix in Class AAA through two miles, but pulled out with a cramp and didn’t finish.