Our final race of the season has come. It was a cold, rainy, fall morning for the Mercersburg Invitational. The Shalom boys and Girls runners were scheduled to run together for their final race. As they warmed up playing their favorite team game ‘NIKE’ in the spacious indoor track, I stood back and watched in awe of how close the team had become all season. These kids weren’t just there to run, they truly enjoyed spending time together, having fun together, and laughing with one another. As much as they have grown to really enjoy the sport of running this season has been special. We have watched teammates try something new and learn to love it. We have seen teammates come back from injury and sickness to absolutely crush their PRs, and we have seen teammates who thought they could never do it and they did it will grit and perseverance! I have seen teammates grow in Character and be challenged physically and mentally to overcome the obstacles they faced along the way. As I stood there, holding back tears, I was grateful for the season we had and was ready to end it on a high note!
15 mins before the start of the race we gathered our things and headed to the starting line in the pouring rain. We were in box 6 and were warmed up as much as we could be with the cool breeze and rain. The gun shot and off went 89 JV runners from local prep schools. Senior Charles Emmons took the lead for the Shalom boys hanging in the top 10 pack of the race. Will Davis, fighting to break 21mins, pushed hard to keep the lead pack in sight. Right on the heels of Will was our very own Shay Kane, who looked stronger than ever! This kid has been slowly trying to come back from an illness mid season and boy was he looking strong today. Logan Cordell and Ethan Dong followed working hard to maintain and push each other to fight through the rain. Maya Lehman rounded the half mile mark on the heels of Ethan and Regan Kearns on her shoulder! The two shalom ladies were leading the race for the girls and had an opponent from Georgetown Day in the mix with them!
Clark Shenenberger stretching his stride, hanging with a pack of opponents trying to fight his way to the front. He was crushing it! Giddeon Clapper feeling good was on his way to a season PR. He was racing with grit and the cold weather and mud were not slowing him down. Ezra Helman made sure to not eat too many mini muffins today and it showed! He was on the heels of Giddeon trudging through the puddles. Senior Adria Rheam on the heels of Ezra, running to her own Rhythm, made today run look easy! She was running with grace and a confidence that has come with experience and maturity in the sport. Way to go girl! Senior Chloe Martin on her shoulder gunning for a sub 24 and hoping to end the season on a PR. This girl was fighting today so watch out runners! Alli Besore rounding the 2 mile corner splashing through the mud puddles with a smile on her face! I’m gonna miss that smile until next season…she truly made the sport fun! Senior Jonah Delgado was in the zone. He came around the 2 mile corner with his game face covered in mud! Nothing was stopping him from finishing his final xc race with grit. Hope Vasquez rounded the corner laser focused and dodging mud puddles. Although she was soaked she didn’t let it slow her down. Her looked muscles were strong and defined, an amazing show of strength! Josh Myers was close behind with a spirit of joy about him. Maybe it was the fact that he was taking in all of Gods beauty despite the weather or just knowing that after 4 years of running xc for Shalom this was his final effort! Alaina Moore was within seconds from Josh cruising at a steady pace not letting the opponents near her pass her. You could tell the weather conditions were not her favorite but she was determined to not give up! Savannah Miles running her race with grace, never stopping and slowing down. The boy in front of her was struggling and kept stopping but Savannah remained strong and steady. Way to preserve girl!
As the runners started to cross the finish line Charles Emmons would take 8th place over all and finished stronger than ever! Will Davis not only broke 21 mins he ended his season on a HUGE PR of 20:22…wow! Keep it up Will, next season you will be breaking 20!!! Shay Kane had an outstanding comeback race almost breaking 21 mins and looking back to his old self. Great job Shay, we knew you could do it! Maya Lehman won the race for the girls finishing with a sub 22 mins, beating her medal finish from last year. Amazing Maya, the best is yet to come from you girl, I hope you come back next year to crush this sport again with new metals and PRs! Regan Kearns just seconds off from her PR took 2nd place over all for the girls and showed herself she is a runner girl! What an outstanding season for a first time xc runner, amazing job Regan! You are a powerhouse girl and your future for this sport it bright! Senior Adria Rheam ended her career with one of her fastest and toughest races! She will be a great loss to this team next year and we will miss her leadership and speed! Senior Chloe Martin accomplished what she set out for and ended her season and high school xc country career with a PR!!! You did it Chloe! We are so proud of you! As the team filed across the finish line soaked, mud splattered everywhere, they all had a new appreciation for the sport of xc and for each other! What an unforgettable season for all! Amazing job Shalom! Until next season, keep on seeking the Lord and shine your light bright!
vs.
Gettysburg XC Invitational
WinGirls team placed 4th out of 15 teams and the boys placed 10th out of 20 teams!
There was a cool mist in the air, and light rain, as Shalom set up tent at today’s race at Gettysburg High School. The team walked the course and the beautiful fall foliage was in full effect, with deer running across the fields. The kids just wanted to beat the rain that was coming but unfortunately, that was not how it played out….The Shalom girls were up to the starting line first, right as the rain started to pour. There was a peace about them though and a confidence that they knew what laid ahead. The gun went off and the girls headed across the field. As they filed down the steep hill at the first quarter mile mark, they took their time to make sure they wouldn’t fall. Maya Lehman took the lead as Regan Kearns followed behind. Both girls looked strong and relaxed. Adria Rheam on their heels was pushing a fast pace and looking quite comfortable as she ran by. Chloe Martin holding her own, focused on keeping Adria within reach. Freshman Alli Besore powered down the hill like it was nothing. Hope Vasquez got lost in the mix trying to fight through the crowd of girls powering down the hill. Alaina Moore followed leading a pack of her own but maintaining control as she let the hill take her! Savannah Miles looking solid and steady ran by holding a comfortable pace. As the girls passed the 2 mile mark, Maya Lehman fell back to 2nd place but trying to gain back the lead. Her beautiful stride on display for all to see! Regan Kearns was working hard to close the gap between the two. I love how these two support each other but also compete against each other and push each other towards the same goal! The Shalom girls were all flying at this point, you could taste the PRs! As the runners rounded the corner to the flat home stretch, Maya held her second place spot cruising down the course to the finish! Regan a few seconds behind her had an opponent on her heels! As the crowed roared, Regan looked up at the clock and pushed herself to a solid finish for 3rd place over all! No sooner did Regan cross the finish line, Adria Rheam headed towards the final stretch absolutely crushing her PR and finishing in 11th place over all! Wow!!! MVP Adria, that was an amazing race and a finish that helped our team! I stopped counting how many people you passed in the end, way to be strong and consistent! Senior Chloe Martin rounded the corner hungry for a new season PR! Her mind of me bracelet, reminded herself that she could do it and sure enough she DID!!! Amazing job Chloe you did it! Woo hoo! Alli Besore came down the stretch next, with power and determination! She also passed a few opponents at the end and crushed her season PR! This was a huge win for her as she had been struggling with knee pain earlier that week. Great job Alli!!! Hope Vasquez with the end in sight ran for her personal best hoping to finally break 25min! Run Hope!!! She would miss it by 2.7 seconds….oh my! What a way to go for it Hope, next week girl you cab do it! Amazing job setting a new season PR! Our own Alaina Moore came around the final stretch, still leading the pack and gunning for a PR. She would come up short today BUT she ran a very consistent, steady race and is really starting to get comfortable in her running body! So excited to see what the future has in store for her! Savannah Miles pushing paces I’ve never seen came around the home stretch looking stronger then ever. She ran with her head held high for a new Season record!!! Ahhh!!! I knew you could do it girl! So proud of you Savannah!
Just as the girls race ended, the boys were lined up at the starting line. As the gun shot off Drew Martin and Charles took off to get a good position for the steep downhill. As the 200 runners ran by it was like a herd of wild horses fighting to stay on course. Ethan Dong and Logan Cordell stayed on the heels of Will Davis as they worked hard to not get knocked over by the other opponents. Shay Kane, Clark Shenberger, and Ezra Helman looked strong and working hard to get comfortable through mile 1. Gideon Clapper, looking stronger than ever, was crushing his paces…finally, cooler air and he could breathe! Senior Jonah Delgado, in the mix, running a very solid race. He was determined to leave his mark on this course for the last time. As the boys fought through this race, Charles Emmons took the lead for Shalom as Drew was right on his heels. The goal for Charles was to keep even splits through mile 2 and he was doing just that. Will broke away from Ethan and Logan as the three boys made their way to the finishing stretch. The crowd roared as Charles made his way to the end fighting for a PR and coming up short by 3 seconds!!! Still, what a great race! Drew Martin absolutely giving it his all, finished sun 20 and strong. Today would be the senior’s final race and we could not have been more proud. Drew what a season! Awesome job! Will Davis put it in high gear to the end his race with a new PR!!! Keep it up Will you just keep getting faster! Ethan Dong and Logan Cordell pushed through the end absolutely crushing their PRs and proving to themselves this sport is for them! Despite falling during the race both boys got back up, fought hard and crushed it! Amazing! Shay Kane cruising to the home stretch put his stride in full gear and finished a solid 4th for Shalom boys! Way to show up Shay, awesome consistency today! Clark Shenenberger was close behind passing opponents and looking strong. He was miss his season PR by 1 SECOND!!! Ahhh! Hang in there Clark we still have next week! Great race. Ezra was literally seconds behind fight to finish strong. He did just that and although he didn’t PR he came close and had fun doing it. Great Job Ezra! Gideon Clapper came around the corner running his way to a new PR. Gideon ran consistent and strong, great Job Gideon! Jonah Delgado came around the corner determined to not get passed. He pushed it to the end leaving nothing behind and we are so proud of him! Strongest finish yet!
Shalom Girls would end up finishing 4th place just behind Chambersburg and Shalom boys finished 10th 1 point away from Mechanicsburg! Maya Lehman, Regan Kearns, and Adria Rheam metaled for their top 20 finish. A round of applause all around! These kids crushed it today. Now to recover for our final race at Mercersburg Academy next Saturday!
vs.
Shippensburg High School
Loss
Shalom finally made it to a race at Shippensburg High School today. Due to high heat a few weeks back, our meet was canceled so to be able to run today was exciting! It was still, a very warm afternoon… unseasonably warm for October. As the team came back from the course trot, they were sweating and looking to hydrate. Big Spring school was there to race against us and Shippensburg, which brought a smile to our team’s faces. We have grown close to those schools over the season racing Big Spring a total 6 times and our girls beating them this past Saturday and the week before that. Although we were there to race, we also knew we had a big race on deck for Saturday. The kids went into this race making sure they left some in the tank for our goal race in Gettysburg.
The boys were up first and after the national anthem the gun shot and off they went! Drew Martin shot out in front of the Shalom pack fast, hanging on the heels of the leading pack of Big Spring and Shippensburg boys. Charles was not far behind him fighting to stay pace but get comfortable. Will Davis a few opponents behind, held is head high trying to stay in the race with the leaders. Ethan Dong and Logan Cordell were neck and neck pushing each other and the Shippensburg opponents who were right with them. Clark Shenenberger not far behind kicking hard through mile 1. Shay Kane and Ezra Helman in the mix right behind Clark. These boys were seconds apart taking turns leading. Gideon Clapper showed grit running towards mile 2 struggling to breathe but pushing through to finish strong. As the racers ran towards the down hill finish, Charles Emmons took the lead for Shalom boys and gutted out a picture perfect ending beating out Big Springs Isaac Sollenberger at the finish line! Charles amazing finish, way to show strength and not give up! Drew Martin seconds behind, cruised through the end looking strong and fast! Next came Will Davis, who ran most of the race solo, pushing himself and racing just as hard mentally as he did physically! Great race Will! Logan Cordell pulled ahead of the pack of Shalom Freshman boys and ran hard to beat Ethan in the end. Ethan put up a fight though and gave it his all, great job boys. Clark Shenberger approached the top of the hill attacking the down side and finished strong. Right behind him came Ezra Helman who has consistently has been getting faster each race. He put the pedal to the metal, great job Ezra! Shay Kane on his heels looked comfortable on the downhill and finished with a great time! He is saving it for Gettysburg and we can’t wait to see how he does. Gideon Clapper who had every reason to quit, pushed through and finished with grit! Proud of you Gideon! What a race!
As the boys race wrapped up, the girls headed to the starting line. None of them wanted to go out hard they were there to have fun, race smart and save their energy for Saturday! They were also missing Adria due to sickness, so they knew this was going to be a battle to win. The gun shot and the girls took off. Down the first mile stretch Maya took the lead for Shalom girls with Regan in her shoulder. Chloe Martin hanging on their heels was on her way to a season PR. Hope Vasquez and Ally Besore ran together through mile one hanging with Shippensburg’s Sara Mincuzzi. Alaina Moore right on the heels of them looking very strong and on pace past mile one. Savannah Miles running well through mile one was fighting pain in her ankle. She was half limping and I told her to walk if she had to and as tears rolled down her face she pushed through towards mile 2. As the girls headed to the top of the hill Finish, Maya Lehman kept the lead, stretched her stride for 4th place finish overall! Awesome job Maya! Literally right behind her was Nora Braun from from Shippensburg…Regan was on her heels and as the crowd roared Regan fought harder then I had ever seen her fight and she sprinted to the end beating Nora by 1 second!!! Woo hoo, amazing finish Regan! Chloe Martin, missed her PR but pushed through the finish with grit almost beating out Madalyn Kauffman, from Shippensburg missing her by a second. She looked so strong it was amazing! Great job Chloe, you have come a long way from your first race as Ship!!! Hope Vasquez ran next for Shalom closing the gap with Sara from ship but missing her by 4 seconds. It was still an exciting finish, well done Hope! Alli seconds behind powered through the finish ready to be done! She is saving it for Gettysburg, I feel her day is coming. Great race Alli! Alaina Moore ran well all through the race kicking hard in the end to finish strong! Great strides in the end Alaina! As the crowd stood on the hill batting the awful gnats that were flying all around us, the team started cheering loud as Savannah took the hill! I couldn’t believe my eyes, I thought she had given up but she didn’t!!! She fought through the pain and heat and ran strong through in the end finishing the race as the crowd roared! MVP for today goes to Savannah for battling through the mental game, gutting out the pain, and showing true determination and perseverance! Running builds character and there is so much to be learned in life through races/lessons like this one.
Something that also stood out to me today was after the race seeing our Shalom girls hanging with the Big spring and Shippensburg girls. They congratulated one another, encouraged each other and said goodbye with a huge team hug since it was their last in season meet against each other. These girls had formed a bond over the course of the season and it was a beautiful site to see. As representation of Shalom, I was proud of our team for being a light and showing good sportsmanship. I’m gonna miss this team both boys and girls, we have something special this year. Looking forward to getting the rest of our team back and healthy for Saturday’s race at Gettysburg!
vs.
Carlisle XC Invitational
Carlisle Invitational 2023 did not disappoint! This race tends to be one of the fastest of the season, because of its small rolling hills and placement in the season. The Shalom runners were split up into 5 different races today and the JV girls took first to the starting line. The sun was just starting to make its way above the clouds and a cool breeze kept the heat at bay. As hundreds of JV girls lined up anxiously waiting for the starting gun to go off…bang! Off they went! Junior Hope Vasquez fought for her spot in the mix with sophomore Alaina Moore and Savannah Miles close behind. After mile 1 Hope took a commanding lead for the Shalom girls picking off opponents left and right! Alaina, not far behind, was leading a pack of girl’s confidently. She looked as cool as a cucumber, saving her energy for the end. Savannah ran strong through mile one on her way to a PR. She leaks her head up high rounding the corners tight. As the runners pushed towards the final stretch, powerhouse Hope Vasquez did what she does best and pushed hard through the finish with a huge season PR! Way to go Hope! Alaina broke away from the pack she was leading and as she rounded the corner of the final 200 meters she was cruising, stretching her beautiful stride to a new PR…she was on fire!!! MVP Alaina, you keep getting faster amazing jobs today! Savannah did not hold back and left it all on the course. As she rounded the final stretch she saw she needed to book it to stay under her record and she did just that. She cruised to the finish line with a smile on her face. Great job girl! I’m so proud of you!
As the JV girls wrapped up the freshman boys were warming up for their race. Over 60 schools lined up to the starting line and our 6 freshmen were ready for it! The gun shot and off they went, Will Davis taking the lead. This pack of boys have pushed each other all season and were all neck and neck trying to make a way amongst the hundreds of boys surrounding them. As they ran by the first quarter mile turn Will looked strong and determined to maintain his pace. Right behind him were Ethan Dong and Logan Cordell blowing past opponents left and right. On their heels was Clark Shenberger, who looked strong and was fighting to stay on them! Shay Kane and Ezra Helman were right behind hugging the corners and trying to find their comfortable pace. As the runners headed into mile two Will Davis took a commanding lead for Shalom boys working hard to break 21 mins! Ethan and Logan were within sight pushing each other to not let up! Clark looked strong as he leaned into his stride closing the gap between him and Logan. Shay was hanging in there but looking like he was fading just digging for the energy to stick with Clark. Fighting sickness, I’m so proud of him for being mentally tough and not giving up! Ezra was closing the gap behind him looking like he was running negative splits. As the freshman boys turned the last corner for the 200 meter straight away for the finish Will Davis crushed the hill, saw the clock and pushed towards the end for a season PR!!! Wow! Just amazing! Ethan and Logan stuck together to the end pushing each other towards the finish line! They both raced each other with new PRs and dang! Such a strong finish…wow! Amazing. Clark powered through the hill, rounded the corner and absolutely crushed his finish effortlessly! Great job Clark. MVP to this race goes to Ezra Helman who took almost 2 mins off his season PR and absolutely crushed this race. Wow!!! Shay Kane finished with his head held high and although it wasn’t the outcome he had hoped for he never gave up and as a result these boys ended up placing top 10 out of 18 teams for freshman boys!!! So so proud of them, the future of Shalom running is bright!
Next up, JV boys race. Seniors Jonah Delgado and Josh Myers were ready to attack the course and run their last race at Carlisle. The gunshot and the boys left the starting line dodging runners left and right. As Jonah ran through the first mile he had a look of determination and was slowly picking off opponents. Josh pushed through the first mile running a steady race hoping to stay consistent until the end. The sun was out at this point and runners were fading but Jonah and Josh stayed strong throughout the race. As Jonah rounded the last quarter mile he looked at his watch and saw he was within range for a PR! He put it into high gear and absolutely crushed his season PR and finished an amazing race! Josh came around the corner looking for that new PR and sure enough he would end up doing it by 30 seconds!!! Woo hoo!!! Way to go boys!
Just when I thought this day could not get any better the Varsity girls were ready to head to the starting line. They were nervous and some were even shaking but after the team prayer and some encouragement from the crowd they were ready to go. The gun shot and off they went! Maya Lehman took the lead for Shalom running a fast first mile making it evident she was hungry for a pr. Regan Kearns filed behind her fighting to maintain her pace and the pack of girls that were on her heels. Adria Rheam held her own, slowly picking opponents off and fighting to stay ahead of others. Chloe Martin was racing this race physically and mentally. She pushed through mile 1 looking strong yet relaxed. Ally Besore zoomed by mile 1 with a smile on her face. You can never tell if she’s struggling because she is always fighting with a smile! This was a fast race and the girls fought hard to not slow down. Maya was still fighting a lingering illness and fought for every breath she was taking. She ran up the hill, turned the corner and stretched her stride to a beautiful finish. Regan Kearns started fading a bit at mile 2 but when she approached the final stretch of the race she pumped her arms and kicked her gorgeous stride in gear and finished strong in second place for Shalom Flames! Great job Regan. Adria Rheam rounded the last 200 meters in the race pushing paces I haven’t seen all year! This girl was on fire and ended up passing girls at the end for a solid finish! Amazing job Adria! Chloe Martin was 20 seconds behind and was determined to dig deep to finish this race strong! She did not PR but never gave up and had an outstanding finish! Great job Chloe! Ally Besore rounded the last quarter mile, motioning to me she couldn’t do it…I looked at her and said “ YES YOU CAN!” She was almost there and as soon as she saw the finish line she kicked it in full throttle for an amazing finish! I knew you could do it girl, way to persevere!
The final race of the day for Shalom had come, varsity boys. Seniors Drew Martin and Charles Emmons were prepared to run their fastest. As the gun shot off the boys were off and fighting to get ahead of the pack! Charles Emmons took the lead at mile 1 with Drew Martin right next to him shoulder to shoulder. Drew had been crushing his workouts throughout the week and was physically and mentally motivated to push himself this race. As the boys passed mile 2 Charles fell behind Drew by 20 seconds. We would later learn that Charles got trampled on but an opponent's spike and ended falling which slowed him down. As he ran by the final stretch holding his rib you could tell he was fighting to just finish. Meanwhile Drew Martin did not hold back digging deep and giving this race all he had. When he rounded the final stretch he was on par for a HUGE PR and that is exactly what happened. Sun 20 and closer to sun 19 this boy just ran the race of a lifetime!!! Amazing job Drew, MVP goes to you for this performance! As Charels Emmons rounded the final stretch holding his side, he never gave up and with grit would finish the race STILL sun 20!!! Woo hoo what a great performance!
So many PR’s today, so many wins, but most of all we give God all the Glory and praise! This team put on a show for us today and we are so proud of them! Looking forward to our meet on Tuesday against Shippensburg.
vs.
Big Spring High School
WinGirls: West Perry 41 Shalom 20 Big Spring 30 Shalom 26 Boys: Shalom 48 Big Spring 15 West Perry 28 Shalom 28…tie breaker went to Shalom!
As the team drove away from Shalom and closer to Big Spring for our away meet, the clouds got thicker and the rain hit harder. It was a chilly, dreary, wet 60’degrees which made for nearly perfect running conditions:) As the Big Spring team was finishing their senior recognition, the Shalom Flames wrapped up their dynamic drills and were ready to start. Due to the rain, all the races started together. Big Spring, West Perry, and Shalom boys and girls were lined up ready to go.
The whistle blew and off they trudged through the open wet grass that laid ahead! Charles Emmons took a demanding lead for the Shalom flames and looked stronger than I have seen him all year. He attacked the first hill like it was nothing. Close behind was Drew Martin who marched up the first hill effortlessly. He remained relaxed and strong through mile 2. Will Davis was making a run for it today, hanging on the heels of the leading pack and hungry for a course PR. Ethan Dong running very strong had Logan Cordell on his shoulder powering up the first hill passing their opponents. Ethan is strong on the hills and did not disappoint today. Logan really getting comfortable pushing himself early on, was on his way to a course PR! Clark Shenberger kept Logan in his vision, just steps behind but pushing a pace I’ve never seen him run on this course! Wow! The boys were on fire! Shay Kane, who was fighting a sickness, showed up to give it his best shot and was determined to stay with the pack. He fought for every stride. Way to push through Shay!
Maya Lehman and Regan Kearns filed right behind the boys in the mix leading the pack of girls that followed. Maya was battling sickness but determined not to give up. Regan pushed to stay close to the Shalom boys and hung on the heels of West Perry’s Lila Kretzing. Chloe Martin, still running on that runners high from last weeks big PR went out fast and strong! Adria Rheam right behind her on her heels these two were on their way to big PRs! The rain and mud had nothing on them. Ezra Helman, running right with them pushing the girls and himself. He was running almost 2 mins faster than he had in that course before…wow! Amazing push Ezra! Gideon Clapper stayed right behind Ezra working hard to close the gap. He too was pushing for a new PR!
Hope Vasquez, out of nowhere, continued to pass her opponents working hard toward a pr. She was on the shoulder of Analicio, from West Perry, pushing her hardest. It was going to be a battle in the end and although Hope would come up short by 10 seconds she would end up beating her PR almost by a whole minute!!! Whaaat! Great job Hope! Jonah Delgado and Josh Myers were not far behind. These two started the race strong and ended up running pretty solo until the end. They knew every point mattered and pushed hard through the finish! Great job boys. Alaina Moore, right in the mix, ran her race confidently! She attacked the hills and was determined to catch Hope! She would end up PRing this course finishing strong. Way to kick it girl! Savannah Miles ran her fastest course PR working hard to close the gap with West Perry’s Kelsey Kline. Woo hoo! Yeah gurl!
Charles Emmons running faster his last mile than his first, ran for a HUGE season PR and finally broke 20 min! Yass Charles! This is great timing for Saturday’s big race…keep up the good work! Drew would end up finishing 2nd for Shalom and looked strong in the end. He definitely reserved himself for Saturday but made sure he didn’t get passed in the end which gave helped with our win! Smart running today Drew! Will Davis sprinted to the end and would end up beating his course PR by 2 seconds! Way to stay consistent Will. Ethan Dong and Logan Cordell put on a show at the end for a race to the finish! Ethan would pull through beating Logan by 3 seconds!!! Although that push gave Logan a new course PR by 15 seconds. Great job boys!
The boys race would come down to Clark Shenberger for the tie breaking score over West Perry! Not only did Clark’s time win it for the team he also had a huge PR. MVP right there. Awesome job Clark! Shay Kane finished conservatively for his personal best in the end but we are still proud of his performance! Shay rest up for Saturday as he is fighting sickness! Ezra Helman, despite slipping and falling at mile 2, ran a solid race finishing with a big PR! Woo hooo! You put in the time and it is paying off Ezra, you rock! Maya Lehman fell behind the leading pack of girls at mile two, fighting fatigue and sickness but never gave up. Regan Kearns rounded the final of the race, stretch leading the Shalom girls for the first time ever. She stretched her beautiful stride and would end up finishing 3rd place for girls overall and first for Shalom! Great racing today Regan! Maya finished soon after, exhausted and glad to be done. She knows her goal race is Saturday and we are praying she can recover quickly for that. I’m proud of you for not giving up Maya! Literally on Maya’s heels at the finish was our own Chloe Martin!!! Girl almost broke 24 by 1 second and went home with a new HUGE PR!!! Ahhh!!! Adria Rheam stuck with her right to the end finishing only 8 seconds behind her. Shalom girls on fire…we could not be stopped! Both captains finishing with big season PRs and looking stronger then ever. Gideon Clapper ran one of his best races and beat his course record for a strong finish right behind Ezra! Great Job Gideon! Ally Besore, finishing a solid 5th for Shalom girls, left some in the tank for Saturday. She ran well, but we know she has more in there and can’t wait to see her shine with the sun on Saturday!
The Shalom boys would end up having their first team win of the season, beating West Perry with a tie breaker and the Shalom girls won both their races handily, furthering their winning record. This was a big victory for both teams and a testament to their hard work this season! Now to rest, recover, and hope for more PRs at our invitational at Carlisle on Saturday!
vs.
James Buchanan
Boys: 39 to JB 19 Boys 31 to SM 24 Girls 20 to JB 39 Girls 29 to SM 28
77 degrees, no humidity, blue skies and sunshine for miles set the stage for the JB vs Smithsburg vs Shalom tri meet today. James Buchanan High felt like home since we had just run it the week before. The Shalom Flames felt rested from their day off the night before and ready to perform. Middle School team managers, Archer Dice and Owen Book, were with us today to warm up with the team.
The Shalom boys were up to the starting line first and they were hungry for a team win. The gun shot and off they went. Drew Martin and Charles Emmons ran shoulder next to shoulder through the first mile! Wow, this was a fast race these boys were pushing! Will Davis about a minute behind them lead the freshman boys who were back to back running paces like I have never seen them run before! Ethan Dong and Shay Kane looked comfortable through the first mile trying to close the gap on Will. Logan Cordell and Clark Shenenberger were crushing this race, staggering between Smithsburg’s Charles Higgins and JB’s Ronnie Martin. It was an all out race today! Ezra Helman was about a min behind Clark and seconds ahead of Giddeon Clapper. His goal was to stay ahead of Giddeon and he did just that. Giddeon was on fire and running a solid, consistent pace which was pushing the team and benefiting them all! Awesome grit out there boys. Josh Myers pushed hard and although he ran a solo race he would end up beating his season PR by a Minute!!! Woo hoo!!! Yeah Josh let’s go! As the runners circled the last corner to the .25 home stretch Charles Emmons took off and fought hard for a 6th place finish right behind JB’s Max Embree. Drew Martin, literally finished seconds behind Charels, had a great race for a course PR and 7th place finish. These two seniors continue to push each other to be their fastest and best and I can’t wait to see what they're going to do next week! Great Job boys! Will Davis neck and neck with Smithsburg’s Luke Gentzel raced to the end losing by a second!!! Ahh, so close Will you crushed it! Still a course PR good job bud! Ethan Dong right behind Will fought hard and finished with an almost 2 min course PR wow! Great job. Logan Cordell out of nowhere, pushed hard and kept his cool to finish with a monster course PR of 22:10!! Wow!!! Amazing! Shay Kane knocked a minute off his course PR and Clark Shenenberger not far behind knocked over 30 seconds off of his! Such great performances! Ezra Helman keeping his lead ahead of Giddeon was determined to finish strong and he did just that with a minute plus PR!!! Gideon ran a sub 25 min crushing his personal best! Wow…amazing boys. Josh Myers with the MVP crushing his PR by 2 minutes and looking stronger then ever. Although we did not win these races as a team we fought hard and lots of individual wins so great job boys! Keep up the good work!
The girls were warmed up and ready to race! The gun shot off at about 4:35pm and off they went! Smithsburg runners ran out quick and Maya Lehman and Regan Kearns were not far behind. Another fast race ahead for sure. As the girls ran through mile one Regan and Maya were neck and neck striving to close the gap ahead. Adria Rheam was crushing her race, looking strong and running effortlessly through mile one. On her heels was Chloe Martin who was looking confident and feeling good. This girl was on FIRE! Ally Besore looked comfortable through mile one running with teammate Hope Vasquez. Both lady Flames would push each other during the race picking off the competition left and right. Alaina Moore, crushing her race, passed Grace Meals from JB at mile two! She was looking stronger than ever determined to beat her time! Savannah Miles on the heels of JB Corinna Peckman, held onto her pace and was running with grit! As they rounded the final stretch we knew this was going to be a race to the end! Regan Kearns took the lead for Shalom at mile two but Maya was determined to beat her. As both girls ran their final stretch Maya took the lead by seconds beating Ragan by 8 seconds! Wow, you both finished so strong I can't wait to see this partnership/rivalry compete at Carlisle next week! Get ready for a showdown! Adriah Rheam took 3rd place for Shalom girls, absolutely crushing her PR by 2 minutes and finishing 7th overall! Way to go Adriah, awesome job. The MVP for the girls today goes to Chloe Martin who finished with an almost 3 min course PR and a brand spankin new season PR. Chloe has been battling the mental game all season and today was a breakthrough! I’m so proud of you girl, I knew you could do it!!! Ally Besore ran a solid race, and despite the Shalom Boys completely distracting her at mile 2.7 with their pyramid attempt, she pushed hard to finish strong in the end. Hope Vasquez stayed on her heels and followed Ally with a huge course PR of over one minute!! So proud of you Hope! Way to own her hometown! Alaina Moore ran a solid race just short of her course PR by 5 seconds!!! Wow girl, way to stay strong and consistent! Savannah Miles had the biggest roar from the crowd finishing strong at the end. She picked off the last 2 competitors in the end and looked stronger than ever. The Shalom Girls ended up beating JB and losing to Smithsburg by ONE point!!! Ahh, so close! Still, what a great day of racing. Awesome job Flames rest up for next week’s races at Big Spring and Carlisle!
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Ben Bloser Invitational
Win
A chill 48 degrees, blue skies, no humidity, sunshine, and over 50 mid Penn schools with tents scattered around the Big Spring base ball field, was the setting for the Ben Bloser invitational today! You could not ask for better race conditions and the Shalom flames were ready for it. Our brand new tent stood high next to our school flag blowing in the wind, we finally felt official…we have arrived! First up, was the girls Varsity single A race. As the five girls warmed up nerves were running high…they came prepared and after they huddled and prayed they were ready to attack! The gun shot off at 10:30am and they were off! Filing in behind one another, Maya Lehman and Regan Kearns took a demanding lead for the Shalom girls. As they ran by mile one, Maya lead by a couple of seconds Regan was hanging by her heels looking strong and determined! Shalom captain Adria Rheam was not far behind keeping the competition at bay and trying her hardest to pass the slower runners ahead. She was cruising and looking unstoppable! Ally Besore on her heels with a big smile across her face right after mile 1, she was looking stronger then ever passing girls left and right. Chloe Martin followed a few seconds behind holding her own, looking fierce after mile one. The race was fast today, as the cooler temps seemed to bring energy to the racers. As Maya Lehman approached the home stretch I yelled for her to catch that PR and she sure did! She would run her fastest time at Big spring ever! Regan Kearns held onto Maya and ran an incredible race only short of Maya by seconds. Both girls would end up making the podium medaling in the top 10 for Varsity girls single A!!! Wow….AMAZING performance girls! Ally Bessore ran her tail off absolutely taking down every opponent near her and would end up placing 3rd for Shalom girls and just short of a podium finish overall. Wow, Ally you continue to amaze me, keep up the strong work! Captain Chloe Martin ran fast through the finish pushing herself physically and mentally to beat the opponent ahead of her and she did just that finishing strong for Shalom varsity girls. Adria Rheam pulled through to the end running a strong race despite feeling pain in her side at mile one. Way to dig deep and push through the pain Adria…I’m proud of you!
As the girls Varsity race finished the boys Varsity single A lined up to start their race. Shalom looked strong and were prepared to give it their all! The gun shot off and the flames were off! Captain Charles Emmons took the early lead for Shalom running a fast first mile at 6:06 pace…this kid was hungry. Senior Drew Martin was not far behind, hugging the corners of the course running down opponents left and right! He looked stronger and more determined as ever. Drew would end up finishing right behind Charles and crushing this course with an outstanding Big Spring PR! Great job Drew! Following Drew was Freshman Will Davis, who was determined to to hang with the fast pack of boys right ahead of him! Will consistently is getting faster each race and we were pumped to see him do his thing, awesome job Will! Shay Kane, crushing his race made sure he would stay on the heels of Will Davis. Shay was gunning for him and determined to beat him on the hills! He did just that and ended up finishing 3 seconds behind Will…wow! Watch out Will, Shay has his eyes on you! Ethan Dong ran a solid race today. He stayed strong through mile one and held his pace consistently. The ending sprint was the cherry on top! This is becoming a solid pattern for this boy, way to finish strong Ethan. Charles Emmons would end up placing 1st for Shalom and 48th over all and just short of a podium finish. He broke his Big Spring Course PR and we are so excited for the races ahead! Awesome job Charles! Great race today Varsity boys!
After a little break while triple A teams ran, the JV girls were stretched and ready to go. The sun was in full effect, but that didn’t stop the girls! They were hungry for a win! The gun shot and off they went! Junior Hope Vasquez took the lead for the Shalom girls and she held a stewards, strong pace thru mile one! Sophomore Alaina Moore was a few minutes behind looking determined to stay with the pack of opponents ahead of her! She was crushing her race! Sophomore, Savannah Miles, was right on her heels staying close to Alaina and not letting her opponents pass her! Amazing job Savannah! As the girls rounded the last half mile, Hope did what Hope does best and absolutely unleashed and furry on the course and sprinted to the end! Yeah gurl! Alaina Moore, not far behind, spread her stride and had a beautiful finish! Savannah Miles within a couple people behind her, pushed her stride to the finish absolutely crushing her PR!!! All three JV girls ended up on the podium and earned medals! Woo hoo! Yeah girls! Way to represent Shalom!
As the girls race finished the final race of the day approached. The Shalom boys JV lined up at the starting line ready to burn their energy that had been building up throughout the day. The gun shot off and the boys funneled together, trying to find their place in the sea of boys. Logan Cordell and Clark Shenberger ran together through mile one pushing to stay in the mix of these fast JV boys. Junior Gideon Clapper was determined to stay with the boys ahead of him slowly picking them off one at a time. He looked strong and confident! Ezra Helman, keeping his cool through mile 1 looked in the zone. He would end up maintaining his pace through the end never giving up! Ezra, great job today…your time is coming! Captain Jonah Delgado ran fast through mile one pushing his pace and ready to attack the hills. Jonah at the last half mile saw an opponent right ahead of him slow down to a stop and Jonah ran by encouraging him to keep going! That is what this kid is all about, I’m so proud of his sportsmanship and leadership! Jonah would end up finishing strong and I’m looking forward to seeing him continue to improve this season! Logan Cordell gets the MVP today absolutely destroying his PR and placing first for Shalom boys JV and gaining himself a top 15 medal over all! Wow…amazing running today Logan! Clark finished strong right after Logan looking like he even had more in the tank! Amazing race Clark! He too would end up getting a top 15 medal for the Shalom flames, congrats Clark! You deserved it! Gideon Clapper achieved his goal of maintaining speed with his fast opponents and would end up in a full out sprint to the end! Way to go Gideon! By far your best race this season and he also gained a place at the podium for s medal! Keep up the great work Gideon!
I could not be more proud of this team and how they performed today. Your hard work at practices is paying off! You all should be proud, way to go team!
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James Buchanan
WinBoys: shalom 33 JB 22 Girls: shalom 21 JB 40
As the Shalom Flames rolled up to James Buchanan High, the backdrop looked like a post card from Colorado. Big green mountains stood high in the background, with blue skies and white cotton ball clouds scattered above. Rays of sunshine warmed the air and a light breeze brought relief from the heat, which made for great running conditions. The team started out for their course walk and all noticed how hard and dry the grass would be. By the end of our walk our shoes were covered in a dark dusty film. Despite dry conditions, the course was close to perfection with its small rolling hills, open flat fields, and a couple narrow paths in the woods. JB and Clear Spring schools were wrapping up their warm ups as the boys began to head to the starting line. Josh Myers prayed over the team praying for protection and sound mind! These boys were ready to race!
The gun shot and off they went! Charles Emmons right behind two JB runners with Drew Martin on his heels! At mile one the boys were looking strong as they held onto 3rd and 4th place. Damien Thomas from JB was inches ahead of freshman Will Davis as they made the sharp turn into the woods. Will would end up holding his own narrowing the gap that was ahead. Shalom’s Ethan Dong and Shay Kane came through mile 2 neck and neck pushing one another as Clark Shenberger was on their heels. His face of determination said it all and he would maintain his distance behind them not falling back but pushing to catch them. Great effort out there Clark! Power house Logan Cordell lead his pack of boys with Shalom’s Gideon Clapper on his heels and Ezra Helman right in the mix. Ezra looking strong at mile two as he closed the gap with the boys fell back after going through the woods and almost rolling his ankle! He pushed through the pain and gritted it out to phenomenal finish! Way to go Ezra, your time is coming! Senior Jonah Delgado, playing it cool per usual, made his race look effortless putting forth beautiful strides and strength. His form was on point and the practice was paying off! Senior Josh Myers running his race, absolutely crushing it was on his way to a season PR! He would end up finishing almost a minute faster then his race at big spring, way to continue to grow Josh! As Charles Emmons rounded the last corner to the final straightaway he looked strong and determined to catch JB’s Nate Towns who was within reach. He would push hard to the finish line, not catching him this time but crushing his race and finishing strong. Drew Martin put it in high gear almost catching Charles and placing 4th over all for the boys. Wow, he is getting faster! Great race boys! Will Davis leading the Shalom freshman pack finished strong with a new season PR shaving almost 2 minutes off his time! Ethan Dong raced Clear Springs Isaiah Perechuck neck and neck to the finish as he was able to pull through and beat him! His strength in the end was unmatched and he deserved a big round of applause for his performance! The hard work at practice is paying off, awesome job Ethan! Shay Kane not far behind gutted through the final stretch making Clark Shenberger push even harder to catch him! Way to push each other and finish strong boys! Logan Cordell and Gideon Clapper on his heels raced to the end leaving dust behind. The boys may not have beat JB but they beat Clear spring 22 to 37 and left feeling good about how they raced. Still room for growth but wow, great racing today boys!
As the girls lined up to the starting line, the crowd roared “Go Shalom!” The gun shot off and Maya Lehman took a commanding lead. She would end up holding that lead with her beautiful stride, for the entire race looking comfortable and strong. Regan Kearns stayed on her heels for the majority of the race falling back just a little at the last half mile. Both girls left all the competition behind in the dust taking 1st and 2nd place over all and claiming Shalom’s Victory! These two sophomores are absolutely crushing their races and continue to push each other. Awesome job ladies, I’m proud of you! Senior, Captain Adria Rheam, ran one of her fastest, strongest races to date keeping the gap close between her and JB’s Kimber Yeager. Kimber would end up barely beating her in the end but the effort put forth by Adria was worth noting. She held her own, did not slow down, and looked great out there…awesome Job Adria! Freshman Alli Besore looked calm as a cucumber running comfortably but not giving up. Lilly Lewis from Clear Spring was on her heels the whole race by Ali would not back down. She would end up beating her candidly and finished a solid 4th place for Shalom girls. Captain Chloe Martin started the race not feeling the best but pushed through her emotions to run a solid race finishing 5th for Shalom girls. Her time to shine is coming and she knows it! Great job pushing through and leading your team to a victory! I’m proud of you! The MVP of the race today goes to sophomore Alaina Moore! This girl ran her best race yet running neck and neck with Chloe Martin and Hope Vasquez through the finish. She never gave up, held her pace and in the end her and Hope put the pedal to the metal and raced each other to the finish line. Hope, in true Hope form, would power through beating her by a ponytail in the end!!! WOW, what an amazing finish girls and way to crush your season PR Alaina! Our flames were on FIRE! Savannah Miles came around the corner absolutely looking strong and determined to push herself to the end. The fans went wild and she ended up beating her season PR and we are just so proud of her grit to the end! The Shalom girls ended up beating Clear Spring 17-44 and JB 21-40!!! Woo hoo! This race is just going to propel us into the weekend, where we all will be racing at the Ben Bloser Invitational. Great job Shalom!
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Enos Yeager Invitational
It was a beautiful evening at Falling Spring Elementary school home of the chambersburg Trojan xc team. The Enos Yeager invitational is a special race, named after a man who loved running and poured into the local running community. 10 teams and hundreds of runners gathered to walk the course beforehand.
The Varsity boys were up first Shalom’s Seniors Drew Martin and Charles Emmons were ready to give it their best shot. As the gun shot off the boys took off filing behind the group of 76 runners. As Charles approached the 1st mile he was running fast at a 6:13min pace. Drew not far behind him pushing through mile one at 6:20min pace. Wow, these boys were cruising fast towards that finish! Charles would end up in a full out sprint at the finish line tying Shippensburg’s Raymond Mowery and beating out Shippensburg’s Drew Chamberlin by 4 seconds! Way to hold the line Charles! Drew followed soon after running strong towards the finish line with no one around him! Awesome job Varsity boys!
The girls were up next and after seeing the varsity boys perform they knew it was going to be a fast race right out of the gate. The gun went off and 95 girl runners began their race towards the finish! Sophomore Maya Lehman shot out first for Shalom girls holding onto top 15 space around mile one running at a 6:39 pace. On her heels was Regan Kearns who came in the first mile running at a 6:46 pace. There girls push themselves at practice and it was fun to see them doing the same during the race! Senior Adria Rheam rounded the corner of mile one with blood gushing from her nose staining her white uniform. As she waved down coach saying “I’m fine” she continued to power through the race not letting the blood slow her down! Talk about beast mode, amazing perseverance Adria! Chloe Martin settled into a comfortable pace cruising through mile one with Hope Vasquez on her heels and freshman Alli Besore right behind her. These girls looked strong through mile one and had more to give. Alaina Moore came around the corner with a beautiful smile on her face looking comfortable and determined to push herself toward the end! Savannah Miles came soon after her keeping Marlie Andrew’s from Northern at bay. Way to not let her pass you Savannah! As the top runners started to finish Maya Lehman rounded the final turn spreading her stride and finishing strong for Shalom girls placing 19th out of 95! Regan held onto second place for Shalom seconds behind Maya placing 23rd out of 95! Both girls solidified top 30 ribbons and represented Shalom proudly at the awards ceremony. Amazing job ladies??. Alli Besore ran one of her best races yet pushing through the second mile passing girls left and right. Her strong finish was a sight to see as she would end up placing 3rd for Shalom girls and tying Chambersburg’s Zoe Ward. Way to go Alli! MVP status for yesterday’s performance! Adria came around the bend striding hard on the last 50 meters of the race and out of nowhere Chloe Martin powers through in full throttle mode passing Adria and leaving a ton of other runners behind! Wow, way to save some for the end Chloe! Nice finish ladies! Hope Vasquez was not far behind powering through her finish, like she does the best, and racing faster then she expected! Great job Hope! Alaina Moore powered through the final stretch determined finish strong and she did just that! Way to keep getting faster Alaina great job! Savannah Miles was on her heels gracefully holding her own finishing her race with a smile and determination on her face! Talk about graceful grit these girls left it all on the course and I could not be more proud of their results!
The JV boys had been anxiously waiting to strut their stuff all evening and their final race was ready to begin. As the gun shot off the 52 boy runners began their journey to the end. Freshman Will Davis shot out first for the Shalom boys hanging with the top pack runners passing through mile one at a 6:15 min pace…wow! Shay Kane and Ethan Dong were not far behind powering through their first mile keeping each other within reach. Logan Cordell looked stronger than ever right on their heels keeping his form on point! Ezra Helman followed behind Logan keeping the Carlisle runner ahead of him moving. He would not let up. Despite being sick for the week and unable to practice, Clark Shenberger pushed through and maintained a comfortable pace right behind Ezra! These freshman boys keep pushing, keep getting faster, and motivating each other along the way! Sophomore Gideon Clapper held his own running solo for most of the race. It was a mental race for him and he was determined to not back down from the challenge. Jonah Delgado was not far behind keeping Shippensburg’s Konner Stiemke within reach. These two would have a photo finish, neck and neck, full out sprint to the finish line where Jonah’s power would push him to the top! Great race for our senior (co-captain) Jonah Delgado. Josh Myers, steady eddy, ended up running this race mostly solo but never slowing down and never giving up. His determination and graceful stride is unmatched. Great job Josh! Will Davis stood out amongst the freshman claiming first place for Shalom JV boys and top 20 for JV boys over all. Excellent job Will, you are just going to keep getting faster! An exciting finish for Shay Kane and Ethan Dong as they both raced each other to the end in a full out sprint. Shay would come out on top tonight but watch out Ethan is gunning for him next week! Way to put on a great show for the crowd boys! Logan Cordell finished one of the strongest finishes I have ever seen from him leaving Aiden Hess in the dust. Great job Logan! Ezra and Clark rounded the final 50 meters racing each other to the end! Wow, way to put the pedal to the metal boys! You did great! Gideon would end up finishing the race battling himself and leaving room to improve on Tuesday! Way to stick it out Gideon and awesome race JV boys! Looking forward to seeing you crush it on Tuesdays race at Shippensburg!
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Big Spring High School
Shalom vs. Big Spring, Bermudian Springs & Red Land
As the Shalom Flames arrived at Big Spring High School, the clouds in the sky were growing darker. A cool humid breeze was in the air as we walked the course. The hype of “Kill Hill” was all the upperclassmen were talking about and the new runners were anxiously waiting to see it. The hill is known for its steep start and long finish but mostly for its location on the course where it sits at the 2.25-mile mark. Today’s scrimmage was against Bermudian Springs, Big Spring, and Red Land. As our runners towed the starting line soaked from the rain shower that had just passed by, they all seemed to have butterflies in their stomachs awaiting the horn to blow! The race began and all 80 runners jolted across the soccer fields filing behind one another as the course narrowed. Senior Charles Emmons took a strong lead for the Shalom flames hovering top 10 place in the first mile. Senior Drew Martin was not far behind looking strong amongst the other male runners. Freshmen Will Davis, Shay Kane, Clark Shenberger, and Ethan Dong ran comfortably together, looking strong as the pack of Shalom runners cruised towards mile one.
Maya Lehman shot out early for the girls running just behind Big Spring’s Livia Lightly and Regan Kearns was right with Maya. Both Shalom Sophomores, looking quite relaxed keeping each other company but also pushing each other, headed through mile one. Logan Cordell and Ezra Helman were sandwiched between Big Spring and Bermudian Springs runners but neither boy was about to give up their spot.
Gideon Clapper looked strong as he kept his arms loose and comfortable towards the first hill. Seniors Chloe Martin and Adria Rheem, veterans on this course, took an easy through the first mile knowing what lay ahead. Allie Besore and Hope Vasquez were not far behind with smiles on their faces like they were having a good time! Senior Jonah Delgado, encouraging all the younger runners, looked strong through mile one running his own race inspiring all who were around him. Senior Josh Myers pushed through the first half of the course keeping Alexander Kuhn from Big Spring at bay. Sophomore’s Alaina Moore and Savannah Miles pushed hard through that first mile trying to pace themselves. Both girls running in their first xc race looked hungry to finish strong.
As the runners continued to attack the Big Spring course Charles Emmons came around the last quarter mile mark chasing down Joel Yacono from Red Land and almost beating him in the end, missing him by only 2 seconds! Drew Martin was the next to finish for Shalom with a solid time. He has not had much time to train with the team and absolutely crushed this race, so the future is only looking brighter for him this season. Will Davis held his own out there and for this freshman who finished 3rd for the Shalom boys. Shay Kane was only 9 seconds behind Will finishing strong like he had more in the tank…next time Shay! Clark Shenberger was right behind Shay finishing a strong 5th for the Shalom boys and averaging our total team points to be 113. Way to go boys, that was a solid finish and great start to our season.
Maya Lehman came around the final quarter mile ready to finish the race and Regan Kearns, who was right on her heels, came around the last quarter mile mark looking consistent and ready to stretch her beautiful stride! These two would end up placing 2nd and 3rd out of all 26 girl runners, and 1st and 2nd for the Shalom Lady Flames! Chloe Martin had pain written across her face but continued to push through it to finish strong for Shalom girls in 3rd place for the team. She would end up having bleeding blisters on both of her ankles, but she never gave up running her race! Adria Rheem was in sight right behind Chloe finishing 4th for Shalom girls and looking solid out there. Alli Besore, with that beautiful smile on her face, ran down Lillianna Carre from Bermudian Springs in the end almost catching her and placing 5th for the Shalom girls! The Lady flames ended up scoring a total of 40 pts which placed them 2nd team overall and ONE point from Big Spring who won with a total of 39pts. This leaves our team hungry for more, which we will have the opportunity to race Big Spring again in the future! Wow, what a start to our XC season. We have room to grow and places to build but we are excited about how today went and look forward to our next race at Chambersburg The Enos Yeager Invitational next Friday 9/1.