White leads 1-2 finish for University High
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard
University High’s Philip White makes his way past the first mile mark Saturday morning at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, during the A.J. Everhart Invitational. White won the race in a time of 16:57.1.
Albert Gallatin's Jackson core leads a line of runners through the middle mile on the Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus course in Saturday's A.J. Everhart Invitational.
California's Charles Roberts (138) runs with the crowd in the early stages of the A.J. Everhart Invitational held at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus on Saturday. Roberts finished 12th overall in a time of 18:32.2.
Laurel Highlands' Brendan Kopich (85) works his way through a couple runners after the first mile Saturday morning during the A.J. Everhart Invitational at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
Connellsville's Logan Gonzales runs through the fields of goldenrod on the Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus course Saturday morning in the A.J. Everhart Invitational.
Uniontown's Sam Killinger (1) has a step on Albert Gallatin's Jackson Core as the field works its way into the second mile on the Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus course Saturday morning in the A.J. Everhart Invitational.
Philip White took control of the race in the middle mile and never let go as the University High senior ran away from the field Saturday morning to win the A.J. Everhart Invitational in 16:57.1.
Teammate Michael Gharib was second in 17:36.6 to lead University to the team title with 39 points. The Uniontown boys finished second with 98.
Albert Gallatin sophomore Jackson Core wasn’t far behind Gharib, placing third with a time of 17:45.6.
“This is the first time I’ve been here,” said White. “It was a bit of a surprise when I was told the course had changed.
“It’s difficult. That changed my strategy a little bit. I didn’t go out too fast in the first mile with the other kids. At about the one-mile mark, I started to pick it up.
“Once I picked it up, I got a gap (on the field).”
White’s teammates handicapped the field for him.
“My teammates did a lot of research and they said there were some fast kids here. When no one went with me, I was surprised. I was kinda shocked,” explained White.
Core steadily worked his way through the field in the first mile or so, and he expected White to take the lead.
“He’s the West Virginia state champion. It wasn’t a surprise,” said Core.
Core relished the opportunity to run in a field that included schools of all sizes from near Pittsburgh and a few from other states.
“There was a lot of diversity. It’s so much better. It opens a whole new world of running,” said Core. “I’m very happy with what I did.”
Uniontown’s Sam Killinger was the next local runner to finish, placing seventh overall in 18:14.3.
“I knew today was going to be against a lot of Class AAA schools, but I did a lot better than I expected. I figured they’d pull me through with a good time,” said Killinger. “I was hoping for the top five, but I was close enough.”
Killinger complimented Core, adding, “He did help (pull Killinger along). He did amazing today.”
Laurel Highlands’ Brendan Kopich placed 10th in 18:26.2.
“I knew I wanted to get in the top 10. I wanted to stay with the local runners,” said Kopich of his strategy. “I started my kick around the 2½-mile mark. I gradually moved up.”
As for what he got from the invite, Kopich added, “It shows you where you need to be and want to be to win the race.”
Laurel Highlands, Uniontown, Albert Gallatin and Connellsville close the Section 2-AAA schedule Tuesday at Ringgold’s course at Mingo Creek Park. The Mustangs, Red Raiders and Rams are undefeated, while the Falcons lost only to Uniontown.
“You can’t let Jackson (Core) get too far away. That’s something I need to work on for Tuesday,” said Kopich.
“It’s going to be a good race Tuesday,” said Killinger. “It will be extremely intense to see who gets the section.”
Three local runners finished in the second 10 finishers, led by California’s Charles Roberts in 12th overall with a time of 18:32.2. Uniontown’s Austen Metts was 14th in 18:33.7 and teammate Cameron Kutek was 20th in 18:51.1.
Connellsville’s Logan Gonzales suffered a leg injury in the first half of the course, but still finished 34th overall with a time of 19:21.8.
Yough’s Javen Gunther was 65th overall in 20:15.1. Brownsville’s Nick Seto placed 83rd overall with a time of 21:23.6, about a second faster than Waynesburg Central’s Kullen Thorne.
Ryan Coen won the junior varsity race in 19:23 and St. Francis Academy’s Brady Mudry finished first in the junior high race in 8:08.6.