A.J. Everhart Invitational
Not only was Adam Eakins new to Uniontown’s course on the Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, he and his teammates had never ran a race in Pennsylvania. Neither he or his squad seemed to be intimidated Saturday morning as Eakins won the A.J. Everhart Invitational in 16:56.7 and led his Warren County (Va.) mates to the team title with 95 points.
Eakins didn’t come into the meet completely blind, however. He and his teammates did a walkthrough on the course Friday with coach Jeremy Burnworth, a Laurel Highlands graduate who ran the course a time or two for the Mustangs.
“The course was a little bit easier (than what he runs in Virginia). It’s a good course,” said Eakins. “We walked the course the day before, picked out the potholes and where to position on the turns.”
The start of the course funnels to a small grade in the opening 1/4-mile, and Eakins made sure he didn’t get caught up in the pack.
“Usually, I know who I’m running against. Today I just felt it out,” said Eakins. “I moved ahead around the 3/4-mile mark.
“It’s exciting to run in a different state. It’s always fun to switch it up.”
Coming to Burnworth’s former stomping grounds also provided a spark.
“It’s nice to come back where my coach grew up,” said Eakins.
Warren County had two runners in the top 10, three in the top 20, and five in the top 50.
Brownsville’s Cameron Coffey had the best local finish, placing fifth with a personal-best time on the course of 17:44.1. The racers settled in by the midway point on the course, and the top runners pretty much maintained where they were.
Unlike Eakins, Coffey knew his way around the Penn State Fayette course, the home of the FCCA Championship.
“I tried to stay with the fourth guy. He wasn’t too far ahead,” Coffey said of Bethel Park’s Ainesh Ravi, who finished two seconds faster. “I settled into fifth after the 2-mile mark.
“I try to do my best. I’m satisfied as long as I do my best.”
Southmoreland sophomore Robert Smith finished seventh in a time of 18:02.7. He, like Eakins and Coffey, wanted to get out at the start, and did so after suffering a concussion in a soccer match earlier in the week when he was punched in the head by a goalie.
“Getting in the top 10 made me feel good. I had my best time,” said Smith. “I just go out and run my pace.”
Laurel Highlands’ sophomore Anthony Cecchini also escaped the main pack to finish eighth in a time of 18:10.6.
“I wish it was colder,” Cecchini said of the pleasantly warm day, adding, “I feel I can run some more.”
A quartet of local runners was just on the outside looking in for a spot on the medals stand. Uniontown’s Brodie Kelley just passed Connellsville’s Nick Miller and Southmoreland’s Ryan Clarkson in the closing yards of the course to finish 11th in 18:15.5.
Miller was 12th in 18:15.5 and Clarkson was next in 18:33.3. Geibel Catholic freshman Adam Siecinski was 14th with a time of 18:37.4. Gator teammate Anthony Speeney sprinted past five runners after the final turn home to finish 17th in a time of 18:45.4. Waynesburg Central’s Bobby Stitchick slipped into 20th in a time of 18:48.9.
NOTES: Top 10 finishes were also turned in by Franklin Regional’s Jake Flynn (2nd, 17;25.7), Warren County’s Seamus O’Reilly (3, 17:26.0), Josh Shuck of Mountain Ridge, Md. (8, 18:08.9), and Carrick’s James Vojtash (10, 18:11.7). … The 23 teams marked the largest number in the 18 years of the invitational. … Brandon Mathews was the first Frazier runner to finish, placing 36th overall in 19:19.2. … Albert Gallatin’s Kyle Oldland led his team home in 42nd overall in 19:26.6. .. The annual FCCA Championship will be held at Penn State Fayette on Thursday, Oct. 9. … Connellsville will host Laurel Highlands and Uniontown Tuesday in a key Section 2-AAA meet.