Reebok Manhattan HS Invitational 2013

Elk County Catholic senior Kennedy Weisner enters her final year of XC with a champion's resume. Her best year to date was last year as a junior when she won her first state cross country title - this one in the inaugural Class A Championship. Weisner also qualified for her first Foot Locker Nationals. During indoor, she was invited to her first Millrose Mile, and also to the Brooks PR meet, an elite gathering in the Northwest. She came back in outdoor to capture two state AA titles, winning the 800 and the 1600 - a very tough double. She began her final XC season at PTXC-5, setting a course record of 17:49.    

Conferences week in PA.

No matter how fast they run week to week, or how high they sit in the state or regional rankings, Downingtown West is very aware of the overall picture. Results are only as good as their next race.

Talkin's XC is a quick Q&A with top PA runners, and includes Striders... some of their favorites things you'll find very interesting.

Unionville senior Courtney Smith entered her third year of XC with a resume that has been growing season-to-season. As a sophomore, she was 4th in AAA at Hershey. Then last year, she won her first state title, setting a meet and course record. In the winter, she broke the state record in the 3000 meter run, but had to settle for 2nd place. She more than made up for it by twice outsprinting the same competitor, first for 3rd place in the Girls 3000 Invitational at the Penn Relays, and then in the finals of the AAA 3200 meter run at the PIAA State Championships. Smith led her team to a qualifying spot and trip to NXN after winning the Northeast Regional. But in the first 1000 meters in Portland, she fell and was spiked. She recovered for 10th. Then during indoor, and despite an injury, Smith captured 3rd in an incredible 3000 at PTFCA Indoor States, and anchored her DMR to a state title. Two weeks later, she anchored that DMR to a 6th place finish in the New Balance Nationals Indoor champs in a time ten seconds better than their state title... and anchored the 4xmile the next day to a 3rd place finish - both earning all-American recognition. But the injury endured. She went through PT, and returned to racing at the Henderson Invitational on May 2nd. Beyond happy to be back.

How the Top 5 Teams and Individuals did from last week's KYtrackXC.com State XC Rankings

Get your weekly result'age right here. Some recaps with links to results and pictures!

Bronx, NY - Van Cortlandt Park is home to one of the biggest Cross Country Invitationals around, and the meet didn't dissappoint.  We were on-site for all the action, bringing you all the coverage you'd ever need.  Click on either the boys picture or girls picture below to get a full recap of each individual meet, including all Letter Races, and Eastern States' Championship of course.

Blake Haney, Sarah Baxter win Clovis!  Russell, Weisner make a PA sweep at Manhattan, CBA, Unionville win team crowns. (Photo by Leroy Rivera)

  Allie Klimkiewicz and Oakton girls fared well in a very competitive New York and Northeast crowd in the Eastern States Championship race on Saturday at the Manhattan College Invitational held on the historic 2.5 mile course at Van Cortland Park. Racing against some of the best programs in New York and the Northeast region, the VA #3 ranked Oakton girls placed 5th in the championship division with a team score of 175 points as they trailed behind some national powerhouse programs.

Hawks, Tierney win Varsity E race. Rego places fourth, Berkson takes 11th in Eastern States Championship.

In depth statistical higlights for NJ runners at the Manhattan Invitational. Results on the click-side. Merged NJ ONLY individual and team results included!

Many top teams will head up to the Bronx on Saturday to compete at the huge Manhattan Invitational! Other squads will have their final tune up races before league championships start next week! Elk County Catholic's Kennedy Weisner faced Tatnall's Reagan Anderson in 2012. This year she is facing Unionville's Courtney Smith.    

Elk County Catholic senior Kennedy Weisner won the Eastern States Championships with a #7 all-time 14:09.7.

Unionville PA won the Girls Eastern States 89-92 over Fayetteville-Manlius for the 2nd win in over three weekends.

Van Cortlandt Park  - The big day is finally here.  The matchups are set, the teams are on route, and we are ready for all the coverage.  For the boys, Mickey Burke of Rush-Henrietta is onto something great, but may have to contend with the dark horse Edwin Rutto.  For the girls, it will be the first and last time PA standouts Courtney Smith (Unionville) and Kennedy Weisner (Elk County Catholic) will see eachother in a race all season.  Teamwise, the perennial favorites CBA Lincroft and Fayetteville-Manlius will be facing off against the rising talent of Liverpool and Unionville.  And be sure to check back later this weekend, for our full meet recap, as well as the results of our T-Shirt Contest!.

Much of the days action at Van Cortlandt Park will be devoted to the Letter races, and there are great matches on hand for all. Time was a bit limited for pulling in info from all of the different states, and I have no clue about Canada (apologies to the Thousand Islands folks). Also apologies to non-NY teams if the rating scores don't quite capture your full strength, as some of the estimations are really tough. The following summaries should give at least some idea of what's in store for the boy's 7 Letter duels.

The Eastern States is rising up once more in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, and 26 teams from New York to California and from Vermont to Virginia are gathering to take a shot at running down glory road. They've packed their bags and are taking on Manhattan. They're stepping to the line and taking their chance. They're burning over the bridge and taking to the hills. They're giving it their best, but only one team will take home the title.

The 6th running of the Boys Eastern States race at the Manhattan Invitational is about to go into stampede mode. Thirty-three teams in the race are coming to the Manhattan, and they'll be running in the Manhattan, but the question is, can they conquer the Manhattan? Only the turtle-and-the hare statue knows for sure, and it ain't telling until around 2:30 on Saturday.

Unionville senior Courtney Smith entered her third year of XC with a resume that has been growing season-to-season. As a sophomore, she was 4th in AAA at Hershey. Then last year, she won her first state title, setting a meet and course record. In the winter, she broke the state record in the 3000 meter run, but had to settle for 2nd place. She more than made up for it by twice outsprinting the same competitor, first for 3rd place in the Girls 3000 Invitational at the Penn Relays, and then in the finals of the AAA 3200 meter run at the PIAA State Championships. Smith led her team to a qualifying spot and trip to NXN after winning the Northeast Regional. But in the first 1000 meters in Portland, she fell and was spiked. She recovered for 10th. Then during indoor, and despite an injury, Smith captured 3rd in an incredible 3000 at PTFCA Indoor States, and anchored her DMR to a state title. Two weeks later, she anchored that DMR to a 6th place finish in the New Balance Nationals Indoor champs in a time ten seconds better than their state title... and anchored the 4xmile the next day to a 3rd place finish - both earning all-American recognition. But the injury endured. She went through PT, and returned to racing at the Henderson Invitational on May 2nd. Beyond happy to be back.