It was a crisp, beautiful fall morning at the Big Spring XC course where qualifying runners from District 3 gathered for the championship meet. In the Single-A division, all schools automatically qualify for districts—but only the top two teams advance to States. Additionally, the top ten individual finishers (not on qualifying teams) earn a coveted spot at the state meet. A lot was on the line for both the Shalom girls’ and boys’ teams, but after a season of hard work and dedication, they were ready to prove they belonged among the best. Girls Race The girls were up first, ready to toe the line with determination and heart. Due to injuries, Shalom had only four competitors—one short of the five required to score as a team—but these ladies were focused on chasing PRs and individual state qualifications. The gun fired, and they were off! Camp Hill and York Catholic quickly established a commanding lead, but senior Regan Kearns fought hard to stay within striking distance of the front pack. Freshman Eliana Rice blazed through her first mile, crushing her previous best pace. Close behind, senior Savannah Miles held her ground, refusing to let competitors slip by. Sophomore Lydia Sollenberger stayed consistent and strong through mile two. As the leaders began their final stretch, Regan surged forward, passing one last opponent with a powerful kick. She would finish just one spot shy of qualifying for States—but what an incredible race and season she had. Every one of these girls left it all on the course. Congratulations to our Lady Flames on their grit, perseverance, and outstanding effort this season! Boys Race After cheering on their teammates, the boys were warmed up and ready for the biggest race of the season. They had trained relentlessly since June through heat, rain, wind, and humidity, logging miles upon miles for this very moment. Lancaster Catholic entered as the clear favorite, but the Shalom boys knew they could compete with the best. Veritas Academy, ranked closely behind Shalom, stood shoulder to shoulder on the starting line. Everyone knew it was going to be a battle for that second-place spot and the trip to States that came with it. The gun fired, and the race was on! Lancaster Catholic’s top pack surged ahead, but Shay Kane and Will Davis were right there with them. Logan Cordell and Matthew Davis followed close behind, blazing through a fast first mile. Freshman Lee Metcalf showed incredible determination, keeping his teammates in sight and pushing himself to stay in the mix. Freshman Boaz Helman ran faster than ever before, and Gideon battled fiercely behind him, fighting through every breath to maintain PR pace. As the runners charged toward the finish, Lancaster Catholic clinched the win but the fight for second was too close to call. Shay and Will came in strong, finishing 8th and 9th overall with huge PRs (17:28 and 17:29), both earning district medals. Logan and Matthew crossed right behind with massive PRs of their own, followed by Lee with a course-best performance and Boaz breaking the 20-minute barrier for the first time an incredible milestone! Gideon finished strong, showing heart and perseverance to the very end. The tension was high as everyone waited for the team results. Then came the moment Coach Book shouted, “We did it! We’re going to States! ??????” The Shalom boys had made history, finishing 2nd in the district and earning a spot at the State Championship in Hershey next Saturday. Congratulations to the Shalom Boys XC Team, the first in school history to qualify for the state meet! Your dedication, teamwork, and passion have paid off. We are so proud of you, go Flames! ??

First Invitational of the Season – Ben Bloser Recap The sunrise over Big Spring High School set the perfect stage for the always-competitive Ben Bloser Invitational a team favorite for its fun course and deep competition. Our runners were eager to test themselves on a bigger stage and see how they stacked up. Varsity Girls After the exciting middle school races, it was time for the Varsity Girls 1A/2A race. The gun fired, and off they went. • Senior Regan Kearns, coming off a huge PR on Tuesday, surged with the lead pack through the first mile. Though she faded slightly by mile two, she continued fighting for a course record, ultimately finishing 13th overall to earn a top-30 medal. • Freshman duo Ellie Rice and Laurel Heck paced themselves side-by-side, battling both teammates and competitors through the middle miles. • Senior Savannah Miles looked the strongest we’ve ever seen her, powering past the freshmen by mile two to move into Shalom’s second spot. • Melia Harper and Lydia Sollenberger ran tough on their heels, pushing themselves to maintain position and pick off opponents. • Junior Ally Besore, a veteran presence, showed grit early and carried it through to a strong finish. Although official team scores weren’t recorded, the Lady Flames ran courageously in a massive, competitive field. Excellent job, ladies! Varsity Boys The Varsity Boys entered the day with plenty of hype, ranked 4th in District 3 (1A) and eager to prove themselves against Covenant Christian, Camp Hill, and West Shore Christian Academy. The goal: every placement matters. From the gun, the Flames were on fire: • Shay Kane and Will Davis charged into the lead pack, with Logan Cordell and Matthew Davis right behind. • Freshman Lee Metcalf ran fearlessly, keeping the leaders in sight and setting himself up for a big finish. The boys pushed through the second mile with grit and determination: • Shay fought hard through the final stretch to claim 8th place overall. • Will followed in 10th, with Logan right behind in 12th and Matthew in 17th all earning top-30 medals. • Lee turned on the jets in the last 400m, passing opponents with heart and finishing just four spots shy of a medal an incredible result as a freshman in varsity competition. When the dust settled, the Flames had done it. Shalom’s Varsity Boys upset the field, winning the team championship the first invitational trophy in program history! This victory bumps the Flames to #2 in District 3 (1A), right behind reigning champs Lancaster Catholic. A historic, unforgettable performance! JV Girls With adrenaline still high, the JV girls stepped to the line in 80+ degree heat. The goal: finish strong. • Jocelyn Baker ran a steady, determined race, never backing down. • Luciana Grillo, despite battling fatigue and wanting to quit, found another gear and finished with the most beautiful closing strides we’ve seen from her. Both girls placed in the top 15, each bringing home a medal. Way to go, ladies! JV Boys Last up were the JV boys, and all five were ready. • Junior Ezra Helman set the tone early, running hard and smooth through the first mile. • Freshman Boaz Helman and Senior Gideon Clapper pushed together up the opening hill, refusing to be passed. • Junior Clark Shenberger ran steadily and smartly, passing competitors one by one. • Sophomore Holliston Paisley showed grit in the heat, closing hard with an unforgettable sprint down the homestretch. In the final 800m, Gideon surged and finished 2nd overall, with Ezra, Boaz, and Clark right behind. Holliston’s explosive finish capped an incredible team effort. All five boys placed in the top 15, and all earned medals! Shalom Cross Country never came home with this much hardware! From middle school to varsity to JV, every athlete poured their heart into the race. The Varsity Boys’ historic win was the crown jewel of the day, but every performance mattered and every runner contributed to making history. We are so proud of this team. Their hard work is paying off, and we know the best is yet to come as we set our eyes on Districts. To God be the glory, this victory is only possible through Him. What a day!

Shalom Flames Race Recap – Bobcat Invitational Today, both our varsity and middle school boys’ and girls’ teams competed at the Bobcat Invitational, hosted by West Shore Christian Academy at Mechanicsburg High School’s home course. Conditions were nearly perfect cool breeze, light drizzle, overcast skies, and a firm, flat course. Middle School Highlights The middle school races set the tone early! Owen Book blazed to victory, claiming 1st place overall, while Cassidy Hubers dominated her race, earning the gold and smashing her PR. What a way to ignite the day, way to go, middle school Flames! Varsity Boys Ranked 4th in the district 3 1A, the boys entered today’s race with one big goal: beat Veritas. Strategy was clear, hug the flags, race smart, and avoid costly mistakes on this wide-open course. From the gun, Veritas’s Gus Seifferlein stormed to the front on a blistering sub-17 pace. But our Flames were relentless. Shay Kane delivered a career-best race, storming into 2nd place overall in 18:10, just 10 seconds from breaking 18. Will Davis was right on his heels, finishing 3rd in 18:17. Not far behind, Matthew Davis and Logan Cordell pushed each other to near-identical times of 19:03 and 19:05. Freshman Lee Metcalf broke 20 minutes for the first time with a gutsy 19:44. Seniors Gideon Clapper, junior Clark Shenberger, and freshmen Boaz Helman & his brother Ezra Helman all ran courageously, sealing the deal. The result? An incredible team victory for the Shalom boys! Shay also brought home a well-earned 2nd-place medal. Varsity Girls The girls took the line inspired and ready to battle. Senior Regan Kearns surged to the front early, locked in a fierce duel with West Shore’s Adelyn Shuff and Veritas’s Taylor Crooks. Freshman Laurel Heck and freshman Eliana Rice ran smart races just behind, with Savannah Miles and Lydia Sollenberger chasing hard. In the final 200m, Regan fought bravely but couldn’t quite hold off Adelyn, finishing 2nd overall in a massive season PR of 21:58. Laurel and Ellie powered home for Shalom’s 2nd and 3rd spots, with Savannah and Lydia closing the door on the team score. Junior Alli Besore (gutsy despite a knee injury) and Jocelyn Baker (her strongest race yet) rounded out the squad. The result? Another team victory! This time for the Lady Flames! Every runner notched a PR and proved just how far they’ve come. Coach’s Reflection I’m speechless, today was a showcase of grit, teamwork, and heart. These athletes gave everything, and the results speak for themselves. Above all, we give God the glory for the strength and grace to compete. Now, we recover and set our sights on Saturday’s Ben Bloser Invitational at Big Spring this will be a big test that will reveal where we stand in district rankings. Stay tuned, Flames fans. You won’t want to miss it! From the words of Josh Allen: Be Good, Do Good, God Bless, Go FLAMES !