Hilverding breezes to victory in meet with Uniontown
From left, Waynesburg Central’s Ben Bumgarner, Uniontown’s Braden Carei, Jefferson-Morgan’s Aaron Mylan and Waynesburg Central’s Sean Hilverding break from the starting line during Tuesday’s non-section meet at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. (Photo by John F. Brothers)
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Waynesburg Central’s Sean Hilverding finished the 5k course at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly campus in 17:00 Tuesday afternoon to win the non-section meet against Uniontown.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Aaron Mylan, the only runner from Jefferson-Morgan to compete in Tuesday’s meet at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, injured his right ankle but was able to finish the race with the rest of the pack from Uniontown and Waynesburg Central.
Uniontown's Braden Carei finished third with a time of 18:14 to help the Red Raiders to top Waynesburg Central in the team standings in Tuesday's non-section meet at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
From left, Waynesburg Central’s Ben Bumgarner, Uniontown’s Braden Carei, Jefferson-Morgan’s Aaron Mylan and Waynesburg Central’s Sean Hilverding break from the starting line during an early season non-section meet at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
Still feeling the effects of his sub-16 minute race Saturday morning in the Red, White & Blue Invitational at Schenley Park in which he finished sixth overall, Waynesburg Central senior Sean Hilverding still had enough left in his legs Tuesday afternoon to finish Uniontown’s Penn State Fayette Campus course in a winning time of 17:00.
Hilverding set the pace early with teammate Ben Bumgarner, but pulled away in the second half of the race for the first-place finish.
Bumgarner was second in 18:02, but the Red Raiders had strength in numbers for a 25-36 non-section victory.
“My goal coming in was to run a sub-16:40,” Hilverding said of his pre-race plan. “I was still feeling that race Saturday a little bit.
“I wanted to get a good workout in.”
Hilverding is familiar with the Penn State Fayette course from past A.J. Everhart Invitationals.
“I like this course. I like the layout. It has a good combination of hills and flats for a cross country course,” said Hilverding.
Hilverding talked about his performance in last weekend’s invitational that featured over 70 teams.
“I have friends who go to other schools. Running against them helps me mentally and physically,” said Hilverding.
The Raiders had the first two finishers and then Red Raiders had the next seven runners cross the line to secure the victory.
Braden Carei was the first Uniontown runner to finish, posting a time of 18:14. Teammate Paul Klatt was next in 18:31 with Patrick Hager close on his heels in 18:34.
With the dynamic 1-2 punch of Nate Edenfield and Brady Guthrie graduated, Carei and fellow seniors Paul Klatt and Patrick Hager are expected to step into leadership roles.
“All three of us, the seniors, are setting the standard for the rest of the younger guys,” explained Carei. “We want to look back and say there’s not a gap.”
Carei was pleased with his early season finish and knew what he had in store with Hilverding in the race.
“(Hilverding) ran a 15:51 the other day,” smiled Carei. “After four years, I can sense the pace (he needs to run). I’m getting in high mileage now, 65 miles a week. As the season goes, I’ll taper down and get my times down.”
Asked if he had a time up on the board, Carei responded, “I’d like to get in the 16:20s and beat my dad’s (Joe Carei) high school time.”
Waynesburg Central’s Ethan Hacker is in his first season as head coach after serving as an assistant the past two years. He understands he has two solid runners as he looks to develop the rest of the squad.
“I told them the top two open the door and the last five have to close the door they opened,” explained Hacker. “They all have it physically. They need to get it mentally through the race.”
Uniontown coach Joe Everhart is also trying to build the complementary group to his top runners.
“We have a couple nice senior runners. (The other runners) haven’t been real consistent yet, but they’re getting a little more confidence,” said Everhart.
Both teams begin section meets next Tuesday afternoon.
CLEAT MARKS: Jefferson-Morgan’s Aaron Mylan, a one-man team, was situated in the top 10 until he twisted his ankle before the final hill to the finish. Somehow the Rocket runner gutted out, basically on one leg, the final hill and loop around to the finish line.