Pajak leads local boys to TSTCA medal stand
CALIFORNIA — Ringgold’s Lucas Pajak led the TSTCA Cross Country Invitational AA/A race for most of the way Thursday afternoon, but slipped to second when he was unable to hold off Blackhawk’s Jack Aulbach.
Pajak led the Rams and a host of local runners to the awards stand in the annual invitational held at Cal U’s Roadman Park, the site of next Thursday’s WPIAL Championships.
Aulbach pulled ahead of Pajak in the final 800 meters of the race to break the tape in 16:52.74. Pajak was not far behind with a time of 16:58.49.
“At the very end,” Pajak said of when he was caught by Aulbach. “The kid came out of nowhere and took me on the last stretch.
“I have to work on that.”
“I didn’t come into the race feeling my best, but I’m happy with my finish, 16s (16 minutes) barely,” added Pajak.
Pajak has alternated top finishes with Aulbach when the two have crossed paths this season.
“That kid’s good, but I’ll work on it. I beat him in the Foundations race (in Hershey) and he beat me in the Red, White & Blue.”
Teammate Ethan Gamble had a slight lead on Uniontown’s Logan Maust with about 300 meters to go in the 5K race, but Maust managed to nip Gamble at the finish line for fourth place.
Maust finished in 17:26.29, a mere .30 seconds before Gamble.
“Logan just got me,” said Gamble.
The race order was flipped so the AA/A boys ran after the AAA races and the junior varsity race, so the footing became dicey in spots after last night’s rain.
“The corners were sloppy, but it’s traditional race weather,” said Gamble.
Tri-States is generally considered a dress rehearsal for the WPIALs, and that’s what Gamble felt as the race progressed.
“In the middle of the race if felt just like the WPIALs should feel like,” said Gamble. “(Running the invitational) takes a factor of craziness out of (the WPIAL finals).”
“Like two feet. It was really close,” Maust said of his finish with Gamble. “I just wanted to catch the Ringgold kid (Gamble).”
Neither Gamble nor Maust got caught up in Pajak’s fast start.
“Lucas went out super hard,” said Maust, who had a PR on the course.
Maust did not finish last year’s district meet because of physical issues, but believes he’s ready to go this time around.
“I feel this makes me feel confident going into next week,” said Maust.
Laurel Highlands’ Brendan Kopich wasn’t far behind Gamble and Maust, finishing sixth in 17:33.48.
“(The fast start by Pajak) didn’t surprise me. I expected people to go out hard,” explained Kopich. “I was passing people on the first mile and then after the first mile I settled in. I hit my split (5:20) right where I wanted to be.”
The second mile features a long, drawn-out grade before the runners cross the road and make the final lap around the field before turning towards the finish line.
“The hill went pretty good. I’m not good on hills. I just wanted to maintain my position,” said Kopich, adding, “I broke my course PR by 30 seconds. That’s beyond what I wanted to do.”
Kopich, too, felt the race was a precursor for the WPIAL finals.
“For sure,” said Kopich. “I’d say getting used to the course and really know what to do (is important).”
Ben Daerr finished eighth in 17:45.57 to give Ringgold three runners in the top 10. The Rams finished second in the AA team standings with 62 points, only three behind New Castle.
Uniontown was third with 82.
The Red Raiders had three runners win a medal. Nathan Lucy (16, 18:17.66), Leyton Maust (18, 18:27.50), and Brandon Hebda (19, 18:33.51) placed from 11th-20th to earn a medal. The top 10 received trophies.
Ringgold’s Lorenzo Zeni (17, 18:23.79) and Laurel Highlands’ Isaac Meeder (20, 18:34.51) also earned medals.
Zack Snyder was the first Elizabeth Forward runner to finish, placing 38th in 19:17.32.
(Note: Complete local results will be published in Sunday’s edition on C2.)