Sep 25, 2005 By Jim Downey 3 min read

The field settled in around the mile mark of the A.J. Everhart Invitational Saturday at Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus, and nothing much changed over the final two miles with Franklin Regional’s Justine Jeroski maintaining her lead for the individual title with a time of 20:00. Greensburg Salem’s Samantha Bower was second in 20:04 with Norwin’s Chelsea Hoffman third with a time of 20:10.

“I moved into the lead on the nice, long downhill the first time,” explained Jeroski. “(Bower) pushed me. I could see her on the bends.”

Jeroski didn’t have much knowledge about the course, but she was familiar with some of the runners in the field to pace from.

“This course is like other courses. I wanted to beat certain people,” said Jeroski, who thought motivational quotes to keep the pace. “The last uphill was tough.”

Though she gave Franklin Regional a 1-2 punch with teammate Kyle Botten also winning the boys individual crown, Jeroski was a bit disappointed with her finish.

“I try to keep a three-minute difference with the lead guy on the boys team,” said Jeroski, who was 3:19 off Botten’s pace.

It was a race of playing catch-up for Bower, who was tantalizingly close to Jeroski throughout the latter stages of the race but unable to make up any ground. Conversely, the Golden Lion sophomore held off a couple charges.

“A couple of girls tried to pass me, but I responded,” said Bower. “(Jeroski’s lead) was 10-feet the whole time. I wanted to keep up with her. If you back off, you can tell.”

The course played out into Bower’s strengths, adding, “There were a lot of hills and a lot of downhills. Mentally, it can break you down because you have to do it twice. Everyone has a different strength.

“I real happy with my finish. I’m even happier for (Jeroski).”

Norwin’s Leslie Kovach (7th, 20:48) and Stephanie Chapman (9th, 21:15) along with Lindsay Nobles in 11th place led the Lady Knights to the team title with 51 points. Greensburg Salem was second with 82 with Allderdice third at 90.

Brownsville’s Erika Coffey was the first local runner to finish, placing 12th with a time of 21:39.

“We settled in around the mile mark. After a mile they were stuck where they were,” echoed Coffey. “I passed three girls on the hill and one at the finish line.”

The sophomore is the top returning finisher from last year’s county meet, so she used the race to get a feel for this year’s meet to be held back at Penn State Fayette.

“Now I know where to pick up my pace and who I have to watch. I’m excited. I’m only a sophomore,” said Coffey.

One of those girls she has to watch is another sophomore, Connellsville’s Julie Burns. The first-year cross country runner was 15th in a time of 21:52.

“Those last two hills go forever,” said Burns. “(Coach) Joe Siecinski told me to experiment by pacing with someone else (instead of running with teammate Mary Beth Giles).

“I think I’ll keep a little at the end for the hill. I think I wore myself out. It was a good first experience.”

NOTES: Chelsi Festa led the host team home in 25th place with a time of 22:35. … Waynesburg Central’s Maria Shepas, daughter of Waynesburg College head football coach Rick Shepas, finished 13th in 21:41. … Southmoreland’s Stephanie Wiltrout (30th, 22:44), Laurel Highlands’ Cassie Wallace (33rd, 22:52), Frazier’s Jessica Hudik (57th, 24:47) and Albert Gallatin’s Christina Rivera (64th, 25:13) finished first for their respective squads.