CLEARFIELD — The dream of an undefeated season for the Clearfield Girls Cross-Country team went by the wayside in the final dual meet of the year on Thursday against a very strong squad from Hollidaysburg. The 25-31 loss dropped the Lady Bison to a final record of 7-1.
The Clearfield boys team was also defeated by Hollidaysburg by a 19-40 score that dropped thme to 3-5 for their final record.
Despite the losses by both squads, Head Coach John Jacob was nothing but positive afterwards as his squads continue to improve, “This was a heartbreaking loss for both the boys and girls teams tonight. I know that each runner did what they had to do to make it possible for our teams to win. This was made clear by the times that each runner was able to achieve. From the first place to the last, each runner was able to post a season and personal best time. As a coach I don’t think you can ask for much more than that from your entire team. In my entire coaching career I have never had a more complete performance from all my runners.”
The top overall finisher in the girl’s race was Curwensville’s Becca Johnson, once again competing unattached as Curwensville doesn’t field a cross-country team.
Jacob had parise for Johnson also, “Becca once again continued her winning streak by taking the lead from the start and with each step was able to extend her lead. The result was a first place finish and a career best time of 20:16. This is exactly what Becca has been training for all season and it has come at just the right time of the season.”
Clearfield’s top finisher was Courtney Smith, won ran a career bext 20:41 to finish third overall. That beat her best time on the Lady Bison home course by over 30 seconds. Next up, Kristy Fox, fifth overall, improved her best home time by over two minutes with a 21:00 finish. She was followed closely by Clair Mikesell who also took a huge chunk of time off of her best time to finish in 21:01.
The next group of runners battled with Holidaysburg’s runners all the way to the finish. Emily Aveni, Macy Forrest and Morgen Turner all posted some phenomenal times but were just edged out for some key places.
Coach Jacob had this to say to wrap up the girl’s outstaning effort, “It wasn’t until I looked at the results that I found out just how much each of these girls put into the race. The effort displayed by our top runners carried its way throughout the whole team. As Emily Hoover, Sierra Jones, Jill Heichel, Jessica Shomo and Devon Sponsler all posted career best times as well.”
The boys were not to be outdone as their times continue to drop. Jon Sponsler, second overall, was able to drop below the 18:00 barrier for the first time in his career.
Coach Jacob had this to say about the boy’s race, “I have been impressed with the way Jon, as a young runner, is able to patiently work his way towards the front of a pack capitalizing on other runner’s mistakes. Vice Kovach, Kenton Climie, Josiah McClaren , Matt McKenzie, and Jacob Ryan all were able to run under 20 minutes, some for the first time in their career, and with all of them running personal best times. Once again Coach Winters and I only saw the race and did not realize just how good a performance each runner was able to achieve until we looked at the complete results. Not to be outdone each of our other runners – Kyle Thompson, Malav Patel, Logan Gilbert, Shane Graham, Matt Beichner, Tyler Pike , Matt Bell and Sam Evans all posted season best times.”
As the final race at home this year, Coach Jacob wanted to note the seniors on his team, “Running in their final home meet were seniors Devon Sponsler, Courtney Smith, Jessica Shomo, Morgen Turner, Vince Kovach and Kenton Climie. Coach Winters and I would like to thank each senior for their dedication to our program.”
The teams will next be in action when they travel to Penns Valley High School for the Montain League Championships on Wednesday October 17.
Girls Results:
Clearfield 31 Holidaysburg 25
1. Becca Johnson Cur 20:16
2. Emily Ansley H 20:29
3. Courtney Smith C 20:41
4. Lauren Pheasant H 20:51
5. Kristi Fox C 21:00
6. Clarie Mikesell C 21:01
7. Ashley McClain H 22:15
8. Ceara Lance H 22:33
9. McKenzie Walkinson H 22:35
10. Emily Aveni C 22:41
Other Clearfield Finishers
13. Macy Forrest 22:49
14. Emily Hoover 24:43
18. Sierra Jones 25:34
19. Jill Heichel 26:19
20. Jessica Shomo 26:45
21 Devon Sponsler 27:07
Boy’s Results
Clearfield 40 Holidaysburg 19
1. Brad Baronnei H 17:55
2. Jon Sponsler C 17:59
3. David Synder H 18:14
4. Eric Jennings H 18:20
5. Marcus Pierce H 18:52
6. Mace Long H 18:59
7. Vincent Kovach C 19:04
8. Danny Monts H 19:11
9. Kenton Climie C 19:19
10. Josiah McClaren C 19:21
Other Clearfield Finishers:
12. Matt McKenzie 19:40
13 Jacob Ryan 19:48
20 Kyle Thompson 20:40
22. Malav Patel 20:46
23 Logan Gilbert 20:52
25 Shane Graham 21:26
26 Matt Beichner 21:27
30 Matt Bell 22:51
31. Samuel Evan 29:33
Cross Country Scoreboard:
| BOYS | GIRLS | ||||
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record | Score | Record |
| 09/01 | @ Big Valley Invitational (Mifflin Co.) | 10th | 0 – 0 | 7th | 0 – 0 |
| 09/08 | @ Spiked Shoe Invitational (PSU) | 22nd | 0 – 0 | 16th | 0 – 0 |
| 09/11 | Tri-Meet @ Bellefonte | ||||
| vs. Bellefonte | 45 – 18 | 0 – 1 | 22 – 39 | 1 – 0 | |
| vs. Philipsburg-Osceola | 17 – 46 | 1 – 1 | 15 – 45 | 2 – 0 | |
| 09/18 | TRI-MEET @ HOME | ||||
| vs. CENTRAL | 17 – 44 | 2 – 1 | 16 – 45 | 3 – 0 | |
| vs. CENTRAL MOUNTAIN | 35 – 22 | 2 – 2 | 25 – 30 | 4 – 0 | |
| 09/25 | Tri-Meet @ Tyrone | ||||
| vs. Tyrone | 33 – 22 | 2 – 3 | 23 – 36 | 5 – 0 | |
| vs. Bald Eagle Area | 20 – 42 | 3 – 3 | 15 – 50 | 6 – 0 | |
| 10/02 | @ Penns Valley | 18 – 41 | 3 – 4 | 26 – 33 | 7 – 0 |
| 10/11 | HOLLIDAYSBURG | 19 – 40 | 3 – 5 | 25 – 31 | 7 – 1 |
| 10/17 | Mountain League Championships (@ PV) | ||||
| 10/27 | D9 Championship @ Ridgway Elem. School | ||||