Everhart Invitational set
A new boys champion will be crowned while Franklin Regional’s Justine Jeroski returns to defend her title when runners from 19 teams gather Saturday morning at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus for the annual A.J. Everhart Invitational hosted by Uniontown. Franklin Regional’s Kyle Botten rallied in the final mile to win the boys’ title in 16:41 to defeat Allderdice’s Colie Smith by 17 seconds. Norwin returns to defend its team title, as will runner-up Franklin Regional.
Connellsville’s Joe Villaneuva looks to improve on his seventh-place finish of a year ago, while Laurel Highlands senior Jeff Palya returns after missing his junior season due to injury. The two just ran Tuesday in a Section 2-AAA triangular with Palya crossing the finish line 10 seconds ahead of Villaneuva.
Jeroski slipped by Greensburg Salem’s Samantha Bower for the girls title, and both will be back to renew the battle. Norwin won the team title with Franklin Regional in second.
Brownsville’s Erika Coffey was the top local finisher last year in 12th, but Waynesburg Central’s Maria Shepas was close behind in 13th place.
Uniontown, Laurel Highlands, Connellsville, Brownsville, Frazier, Albert Gallatin, Southmoreland, Waynesburg Central, Taylor Allderdice, Bethel Park, Carrick, Derry, Elizabeth-Forward, Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, McKeesport, Norwin, Neighborhood Academy and Rockwood are scheduled to bring teams.
The events at Penn State Fayette begin with the junior high boys’ and girls’ race at 9:30 a.m., with the boys’ varsity race at 10, girls’ at 10:30, boys’ junior varsity at 11 and the girls’ junior varsity at 11:30. The awards ceremony is set to begin at noon.