SA runners mix experience, youth

The South Adams High School cross country teams seem to have the mix any coach would be excited about.

Both return several top runners from last season. And they will be bolsted by promising young talent.

The mix has Starfire coach Clint Anderson excited for the coming season after both teams advance to the regional last in 2008 and the girls went on to a 14th-place finish in the semi-state meet.

"Last year they made it to semi-state and they've set that as a benchmark," said Anderson of his girls team. "They want to get to that point."

That girls squad brings back its top three runners, including sophomore Hannah Moore. She placed third in the sectional as a freshman, and ran 19-minutes, 24 seconds to take fourth in the regional meet.

Joining her as returning stars for the team are senior Allison Beitler and junior Sawyer Shane.

The duo swapped spots with each other at the sectional and regional meets last season. In the sectional Beitler was fifth with Shane behind her in sixth, and in the regional meet Shane placed eighth with Beitler ninth.

Anderson said it is hard to say who his No. 1 runner will be this year, but with three returning after top-10 regional performances they provide a strong base to build the team around.

"Hannah Moore was our No. 1 almost all of last year," said Anderson. "Obviously she's had a pretty strong career running-wise. But Sawyer Shane has got a year of experience now, and I think she is going to be a very strong runner for us.

"Aly came through big at semi-state last year. She was the only one who broke 20 ... and I don't think she felt intimidated ..."

The South Adams boys lost each of their top two runners, including semi-state qualifier Nathan Rupp, but bring back three varsity runners to combine with a strong group of freshmen.

Sam Heckard is the top returning runner for the Starfires, coming off of a 20th-place finish in the 2008 sectional. Also returning to the team are Daniel Heckard and Andrew Smith.

"Sam has developed as a leader," said Anderson, noting the vast increase in miles the senior put in during the summer months. "He knows that he's going into his last year and he wants to make this a memorable season and make this his best season.

"They want to be the first boys team to make it to semi-state. ...

"It's going to be difficult, but I like the fact that they're thinking big."

Of the 11 members of the team, six are freshmen.

"They are coming off of a very successful middle school team," Anderson said.

Evan Liechty, who will be key to the Starfires success this season, leads the group. Also instantly competing for places on the varsity squad are Joel Hawbaker, Andrew Steffen and Brett Affolder.

"If he's not our No. 1 now, he's going to be real soon," said Anderson of Liechty. "He's run some 5Ks this summer and has gone under 17:00 already.

"He has got just an insatiable passion for the sport of running. It's what he's good at ... and he just wants to be absolutely the best he can be. Sometimes you just have to reign him in because he wants to run so much."

Anderson said he also expects Charlie Hirschy and Mark Smith to be competitive in fighting for varsity spots.

The girls team also has some young talent as Kristen Muselman joins the team after being the top runner in the junior high program a year ago. Others filling out the squad are juniors Emily Miller and Tiffany Yoder, sophomores Jenna Smith (23rd in sectional), Adrianna Teeter and Amanda Wolf, freshman Brooke Kirchhofer and Austrian foreign exchange student Kathi List.

The biggest key to the girls team's overall success, Anderson said, is developing a fifth runner behind the returnees and Muselman. He said he expects a lot of competition for that final varsity scoring position.

Overall, Anderson said his team made a lot of progress during its week of camp (Aug. 3-7).

"Things just came together extremely well. They gelled," he said. "I think all the kids identify with each other really well. I think they're going to be a really cohesive group to work with. ... I'm excited. I'm just looking forward to the season with these kids."[[In-content Ad]]