Tri State
Wilson, Fisher finish first at Don Stoner Invite
Smithsburg, T. Johnson sweep small and large-school team titles
Results Photos
By Kevin Spradlin
Tristaterunnur.com
SMITHSBURG – In his own words, Smithsburg junior Dave Wilson hasn’t “even come close” to beating Williamsport rival Michael Lilley, the class of Washington County boys cross country through this point during the fall campaign.
But that doesn’t keep the Leopards harrier from dreaming.
“I want to try and beat Mike Lilley,” Wilson said Saturday after serving notice that Lilley isn’t the only Class 1A runner to be in contention for a regional or state title this season. “I don’t even want to say that. I’ve never even come close.”
Wilson led the 77-runner field in the combined large school and small school boys race in the Don Stoner Invitational on Wilson’s home course at Smithsburg High School. He finished in 16 minutes, 53 seconds – a personal best on a course he’s run quite often. Wilson finished in 17:14 last year and that was in a field he wasn’t out in front of the entire time.
Walkersville’s Stephen Keith was second overall in 17:23.7 and Andrew Canter, of Thomas Johnson, was third in 17:25.5. Middletown’s Andy Drum (17:43.4) and Thomas Johnson’s Dan Johnson (17:43.6) rounded out the top five.
Smithsburg won the boys’ small school division team title with 23 points, followed by Boonsboro (51), Brunswick (72) and St. James (73). Thomas Johnson was first among six complete teams in the large school division with 30 points, followed by Middletown (44), Walkersville (57), North Hagerstown (118), Frederick (155) and South Hagerstown (170).
Brunswick’s Sara Fisher won the girls’ individual title in 19:45.8. She outdistanced Thomas Johnson’s top four runners – Stephanie Bryan (20:10.6), Kristen Luttrell (20:14.6), Savanna Plombon (20:47.1) and Kelsey Igo (20:57.1).
The Patriots cruised to the team title with a meet-low 19 points by placing their first five runners inside the top 10. Kristen Galligan (21:27.5) was Thomas Johnson’s final scorer while Katie Levine (22:16.8) and Amanda Caudle (22:53.1) served as capable displacers.
Urbana was second in the team standings with 51 points, followed by North Hagerstown (75), Middletown (98), Frederick (138) and Walkersville (151).
Wilson has every reason to expect – not just hope, but plan – to hang with Lilley come the championship season. Until two weeks ago, Smithsburg Coach Ray Shriver has had Wilson and his teammates train at a hearty pace and focusing on endurance and strength. Only recently has Shriver’s team begun to focus on leg turnover. And Wilson’s feeling faster already.
Just a week after beginning speed work, Wilson set a personal best at the Frank Keyser Invitational at Boonsboro last weekend in with an effort nearly a minute faster than Saturday's time. Next up are the county, regional and state championships. Both the county meet – set for Oct. 25 at South Hagerstown – and the regionals, scheduled to be contested on Lilley’s Williamsport course – seem to favor Lilley. But at Hereford, there’s a hill. And there, Wilson could get the best of blue-and-white. Shriver, for one, has bought into the concept.
“I think he can, under the right circumstances,” Shriver said.
Said Wilson: “I don’t think I’ll have a problem beating him on a hilly course.”
Despite the terrain and short course at South – both factors which could work to Lilley’s advantage – don’t count Wilson out just yet. Wilson has his own motivation for the county championship meet on Oct. 25. His former teammate, Cory Centofonti, won the race each of the last two years and Wilson would like to leave his own paw print on the county record books.
Fisher, meanwhile, had plenty of speed – too much, in fact. She and TJ’s Stephanie Bryan went through the first mile in about 5:59. Fisher said afterward she had no intention of being sub-6:00 through the first mile of the challenging, 3.04-mile course.
That fast pace, however, could serve her well. She finished third at last year’s MVAL meet, second at regionals and third at states. Her goal for the rest of 2008 is simple: do better than last year. And that leaves little room for others at the top of the podium in Parkton next month.
Contact Kevin Spradlin at run@mountainMDmarathon.org..
Smithsburg, T. Johnson sweep small and large-school team titles
Results Photos
By Kevin Spradlin
Tristaterunnur.com
SMITHSBURG – In his own words, Smithsburg junior Dave Wilson hasn’t “even come close” to beating Williamsport rival Michael Lilley, the class of Washington County boys cross country through this point during the fall campaign.
But that doesn’t keep the Leopards harrier from dreaming.
“I want to try and beat Mike Lilley,” Wilson said Saturday after serving notice that Lilley isn’t the only Class 1A runner to be in contention for a regional or state title this season. “I don’t even want to say that. I’ve never even come close.”
Wilson led the 77-runner field in the combined large school and small school boys race in the Don Stoner Invitational on Wilson’s home course at Smithsburg High School. He finished in 16 minutes, 53 seconds – a personal best on a course he’s run quite often. Wilson finished in 17:14 last year and that was in a field he wasn’t out in front of the entire time.
Walkersville’s Stephen Keith was second overall in 17:23.7 and Andrew Canter, of Thomas Johnson, was third in 17:25.5. Middletown’s Andy Drum (17:43.4) and Thomas Johnson’s Dan Johnson (17:43.6) rounded out the top five.
Smithsburg won the boys’ small school division team title with 23 points, followed by Boonsboro (51), Brunswick (72) and St. James (73). Thomas Johnson was first among six complete teams in the large school division with 30 points, followed by Middletown (44), Walkersville (57), North Hagerstown (118), Frederick (155) and South Hagerstown (170).
Brunswick’s Sara Fisher won the girls’ individual title in 19:45.8. She outdistanced Thomas Johnson’s top four runners – Stephanie Bryan (20:10.6), Kristen Luttrell (20:14.6), Savanna Plombon (20:47.1) and Kelsey Igo (20:57.1).
The Patriots cruised to the team title with a meet-low 19 points by placing their first five runners inside the top 10. Kristen Galligan (21:27.5) was Thomas Johnson’s final scorer while Katie Levine (22:16.8) and Amanda Caudle (22:53.1) served as capable displacers.
Urbana was second in the team standings with 51 points, followed by North Hagerstown (75), Middletown (98), Frederick (138) and Walkersville (151).
Wilson has every reason to expect – not just hope, but plan – to hang with Lilley come the championship season. Until two weeks ago, Smithsburg Coach Ray Shriver has had Wilson and his teammates train at a hearty pace and focusing on endurance and strength. Only recently has Shriver’s team begun to focus on leg turnover. And Wilson’s feeling faster already.
Just a week after beginning speed work, Wilson set a personal best at the Frank Keyser Invitational at Boonsboro last weekend in with an effort nearly a minute faster than Saturday's time. Next up are the county, regional and state championships. Both the county meet – set for Oct. 25 at South Hagerstown – and the regionals, scheduled to be contested on Lilley’s Williamsport course – seem to favor Lilley. But at Hereford, there’s a hill. And there, Wilson could get the best of blue-and-white. Shriver, for one, has bought into the concept.
“I think he can, under the right circumstances,” Shriver said.
Said Wilson: “I don’t think I’ll have a problem beating him on a hilly course.”
Despite the terrain and short course at South – both factors which could work to Lilley’s advantage – don’t count Wilson out just yet. Wilson has his own motivation for the county championship meet on Oct. 25. His former teammate, Cory Centofonti, won the race each of the last two years and Wilson would like to leave his own paw print on the county record books.
Fisher, meanwhile, had plenty of speed – too much, in fact. She and TJ’s Stephanie Bryan went through the first mile in about 5:59. Fisher said afterward she had no intention of being sub-6:00 through the first mile of the challenging, 3.04-mile course.
That fast pace, however, could serve her well. She finished third at last year’s MVAL meet, second at regionals and third at states. Her goal for the rest of 2008 is simple: do better than last year. And that leaves little room for others at the top of the podium in Parkton next month.
Contact Kevin Spradlin at run@mountainMDmarathon.org..
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Thomas Johnson, Fisher win at Stoner
Fisher win at Stoner
Originally published October 12, 2008
From Staff Reports
SMITHSBURG -- Thomas Johnson swept the big schools division championships in the Don Stoner Invitational on Saturday and Brunswick's Sara Fisher was the overall winner in the women's division.
The Patriots defeated Middletown for the big school team crown, 30-44, and Walkersville finished third (57). Urbana finished second in the girls big school division.Read More
Wilson defends Leopards' home turf
The Herald-Mail
SMITHSBURG - Smithsburg senior David Wilson knew all the runners at the Don Stoner Invitational on Saturday.
Now, he has beaten them all.
Wilson smoked the field in 16:53 - more than a half-minute better than second-place finisher Stephen Keith of Walkersville - to become the third straight Smithsburg champion of the 19th annual event.
"I had a lot of confidence running on my own course," Wilson said. "Plus, there was no one that I didn't know was coming."
Wilson helped Smithsburg to the small schools title after he and the Leopards got a pre-race pep talk from Corey Centofonti, who graduated last spring after winning the event in 2006 and 2007.
"(A third straight Smithsburg champion) was in Corey's head," said Leopards coach Ray Shriver. "He went up to David and said, 'You have to keep the tradition going.'" Read More
The Herald-Mail
SMITHSBURG - Smithsburg senior David Wilson knew all the runners at the Don Stoner Invitational on Saturday.
Now, he has beaten them all.
Wilson smoked the field in 16:53 - more than a half-minute better than second-place finisher Stephen Keith of Walkersville - to become the third straight Smithsburg champion of the 19th annual event.
"I had a lot of confidence running on my own course," Wilson said. "Plus, there was no one that I didn't know was coming."
Wilson helped Smithsburg to the small schools title after he and the Leopards got a pre-race pep talk from Corey Centofonti, who graduated last spring after winning the event in 2006 and 2007.
"(A third straight Smithsburg champion) was in Corey's head," said Leopards coach Ray Shriver. "He went up to David and said, 'You have to keep the tradition going.'" Read More
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Photo courtesy of David Bauer