Holy Ghost Prep captures record 21st straight Bicentennial XC crown

NEWTOWN – Holy Ghost Prep (HGP) didn’t come into Wednesday’s Bicentennial Athletic League (BAL) Cross Country Championships expecting to win but the Firebirds sure came in with a whole lot of confidence.

“We’re confident in that we know if everybody runs well as a team, we will win,” said senior Kevin Dineen of Doylestown, who finished fourth with a time of 17:31.

“New Hope’s got a really good team this year and Jenkintown has a strong team this year. So we knew we had to go out and still run. We couldn’t just expect a victory.

“We had to come out here, show up and run – and we did!”

On an unusually warm October day in Newtown’s Tyler State Park where the temperature reached an unseasonable 85 degrees, Holy Ghost’s top seven varsity runners – all of whom are seniors – placed in the top 15, earning the Firebirds an amazing 21st straight BAL Championship.

One of those seniors – Callahan Lennon – repeated as champion, turning in a time of 16:53. While it wasn’t as fast as the 16:45 Lennon registered last year when the temps were more October-like, it was 13 seconds ahead of Jenkintown sophomore and runner-up Jack Miller (17:06) and 16 seconds ahead of Christopher Dock junior Tim Kennel (17:09), who finished in third place.

“I was mainly trying to compete with myself and my time from last year,” said Lennon, who hails from Wrightstown. “So I didn’t really see much of the competition.”

“There were definitely a lot of kids from other teams and from my team that got a lot faster and were able to push me in the first loop and even at the top,” said Lennon. “It was good competition; it helped me run a faster time.”

As a team, Holy Ghost has been doing a significant amount of hill-training this season, in preparation for the state’s PIAA championships set for the first Friday next month. Last year, only Lennon, 2016 graduate Patrick Donahue and senior Sean Dixon, of Yardley, went to states.

This year, the ‘birds are trying to get the whole front seven to Hershey. But first, there’s the District 1 competition set for Friday, Oct. 28 at Lehigh University. Lennon turned in a time of 16:25 at districts last year, earning him top honors, a whopping 23 seconds ahead of Donahue.

In states, Lennon garnered 24th, earning the birds’ top runner a 2015 PIAA medal. He’s hard to catch on the trail. Just ask Miller.

“I knew that the Ghost kid had me from the start,” said Miller, who took 10th-place last year as a freshman. “But, Tim Kennell, from Dock – that was my real goal – to beat him.

“He’s in our district so that’s my competition. So I just wanted to beat him in the end.

“I usually do very well with hills,” said Kennel. “This is one of those really hilly courses but he’s a sprinter and in this race, he passed me right at the end.

“I was kind of thinking it was going to happen and I knew I didn’t have it in me to pull out a huge surge.”

For his part, Kennel knocked more than a minute and a half off his time in the BAL race last year when he was battling Lyme Disease. Now past the 2015 ailment, Kennel is looking to make some serious noise in districts. His personal best in a 5K race is 16:27 so that certainly looks doable.

For the girls, New Hope-Solebury gave the Christopher Dock women a much tougher time this time around but still fell to second place with 54 points to the Pioneers’ 50.

Lower Moreland senior Kerry Kovacs repeated as individual champ with her time of 20:39. New Hope junior Julia Mycek came in second at 21:05 and DelCo Christian senior Maggie Linton turned third at 21:33.

Celebrating her 16th birthday, Calvary Christian Academy sophomore Raegan DuBeck finished fourth at 21:48 and Dock junior Lindsey Bernd took fifth at 22:10.

Jenkintown sophomore Emma Pizer took seventh at 22:17 and New Hope senior Tabitha Liucci took eighth at 22:23 but Dock runners Lael Flores (22:36) and Cameron McCloskey (22:50) helped turned the tide in their team’s favor after finishing ninth and 10th places, respectively.

Contact Steve Sherman at ssherman@21st-Centurymedia.com or @BucksLocalSport on Twitter

Bicentennial Athletic League Cross Country Championships

(Oct. 19 at Tyler State Park)

BOYS VARSITY 5K

PLACE   ATHLETE      GRADE     TEAM                                                TIME            POINTS

1              Callahan Lennon               12           Holy Ghost Preparatory School  16:53.00               1

2              Jack Miller           10           Jenkintown        17:06.00               2

3              Tim Kennel         11           Dock Mennonite Academy          17:09.00               3

4              Kevin Dineen     12           Holy Ghost Preparatory School  17:31.00               4

5              Matt Peshek      12           New Hope-Solebury       17:33.00               5

6              Joshua Jackson 11           Jenkintown        17:37.00               6

7              Liam Flood          12           Holy Ghost Preparatory School  17:43.00               7

8              Chris Cammarata              11           New Hope-Solebury       17:49.00               8

9              Sean Dixon         12           Holy Ghost Preparatory School  17:54.00               9

10           Eric Cammarata 12           New Hope-Solebury       17:55.00               10

11           Jamail Khan        12           Jenkintown        18:02.00               11

12           Thomas Horgan                12           Holy Ghost Preparatory School  18:04.00               12

13           Mark Featherstone         12           Holy Ghost Preparatory School  18:17.00               13

14           Patrick Wagner 10           Jenkintown        18:25.00               14

15           Burton Carbino 10           Holy Ghost Preparatory School  18:33.00               15

16           Mekael Kassu    12           Church Farm School        18:37.00               16

17           Isaiah Denlinger                11           Dock Mennonite Academy          18:49.00               17

18           Sam Czupich       11           New Hope-Solebury       18:53.00               18

19           Charlie Schaefer               11           Delaware County Christian School            19:06.00               19

20           Charles Mangan               11           Jenkintown        19:08.00               20

21           Joshua House    12           New Hope-Solebury       19:20.00               21

22           Carter Kelley      10           Bristol   19:32.00               22

23           Chris Potts          12           Calvary Christian Academy           19:35.00               23

24           Max Ryzinsky     11           Lower Moreland              19:47.00               24

25           Kaine Geoffrion                11           Valley Forge Military Academy   20:00.00               25

26           Sanjay George  10           Calvary Christian Academy           20:14.00               26

27           Dan LeSage         12           Calvary Christian Academy           20:15.00               27

28           Thomas Detlefsen           11           New Hope-Solebury       20:16.00               28

29           Eli Kravinski         11           Jenkintown        20:17.00               29

30           Tom Brower       11           Devon Preparatory School           20:20.00               30

31           Colin Fulmer       9              Devon Preparatory School           20:26.00               31

32           Ian Anderson     11           Dock Mennonite Academy          20:31.00               32

33           Maxwell Vance 11           Phil-Mont Christian Academy     20:37.00               33

34           Aaron Krpata     10           Phil-Mont Christian Academy     20:43.00               34

35           Ben Zonshayn   9              Lower Moreland              20:48.00               35

36           Darwin Sifa         12           Church Farm School        20:51.00               36

37           Christopher Keach           11           Dock Mennonite Academy          20:52.00               37

38           Josiah Cumens  11           Phil-Mont Christian Academy     20:56.00               38

39           Chick Hallinan    11           Devon Preparatory School           20:56.50               39

40           Alex Consemtino                             Valley Forge Military Academy   20:59.00               40

41           Matt Firth            12           New Hope-Solebury       21:00.00               41

42           Tim McCreesh   12           Lower Moreland              21:02.00               42

43           Ethan Harvey     12           Delaware County Christian School            21:25.00               43

44           Steven Seachrist              10           Dock Mennonite Academy          21:26.00               44

45           Ethan Campbell                9              Phil-Mont Christian Academy     21:29.00               45

46           Nathan Antwi    11           Church Farm School        21:35.00               46

47           Mike Gardner                    Valley Forge Military Academy   21:38.00               47

48           Noah Montero  12           Calvary Christian Academy           21:41.00               48

49           Sam Feather      10           Calvary Christian Academy           21:45.00               49

50           Job Stemler        10           Phil-Mont Christian Academy     21:46.00               50

51           Nathan Eddings                9              Bristol   21:50.00               51

52           Jackson Rossi     9              Devon Preparatory School           21:53.00               52

53           Andrew Chez     11           Phil-Mont Christian Academy     21:55.00               53

54           Elijah Johnson   9              Church Farm School        21:57.00               54

55           Daniel McKay     11           Phil-Mont Christian Academy     21:57.50               55

56           Caleb Madison  12           Delaware County Christian School            22:13.00               56

57           Jean LaMarre     9              Church Farm School        22:18.00               57

58           Jon Munar                          Valley Forge Military Academy   22:21.00               58

59           Caleb Limmer    11           Jenkintown        22:37.00               59

60           Matt Fasullo       12           Devon Preparatory School           22:52.00               60

61           Colin White         9              Devon Preparatory School           22:56.00               61

62           Carl Sun                11           Delaware County Christian School            23:01.00               62

63           Josiah Wiggins   10           Lower Moreland              23:02.00               63

64           Bobby Hadden  10           Dock Mennonite Academy          23:06.00               64

65           Len Sassaman    9              Lower Moreland              23:09.00               65

66           Terry Wang         11           Delaware County Christian School            23:12.00               66

67           Ronald Garrison                12           Bristol   23:22.00               67

68           Michael O’cassio                               Bristol   23:25.00               68

69           Babkin Kirill                         Valley Forge Military Academy   23:28.00               69

70           Tyler Gonzales  9              Bristol   23:50.00               70

71           Ryan Schaafsma               10           Delaware County Christian School            23:59.00               71

72           Tavish Wang       11           Delaware County Christian School            24:05.00               72

73           Nickey Dilbarov 10           Lower Moreland              24:05.50               73

74           Killian Rush         9              Devon Preparatory School           24:22.00               74

75           Kevin Farrell       10           Bristol   24:31.00               75

76           Donovan Dabonka           11           Church Farm School        26:07.00               76

77           Colin Gibson       9              Bristol   26:23.00               77

78           Devin Waheed                  Valley Forge Military Academy   27:08.00               78

79           Eddie Feeney    12           Calvary Christian Academy           29:27.00               79

80           Jake Feeney       10           Calvary Christian Academy           32:16.00               80

BOYS TEAM SCORES

PLACE   TEAM    POINTS SCORERS              TIMES

1              Holy Ghost Preparatory School  33           1+4+7+9+12 (13+15)       1:11 1-5 Split | 17:37 Avg

2              Jenkintown        53           2+6+11+14+20 (29+59)  2:02 1-5 Split | 18:03 Avg

3              New Hope-Solebury       62           5+8+10+18+21 (28+41)  1:47 1-5 Split | 18:18 Avg

4              Dock Mennonite Academy          133         3+17+32+37+44 (64)       4:17 1-5 Split | 19:45 Avg

5              Calvary Christian           173         23+26+27+48+49 (79+80)              2:10 1-5 Split | 20:42 Avg

6              Phil-Mont Christian     200         33+34+38+45+50 (53+55)          1:09 1-5 Split | 21:06 Avg

7              Church Farm School        209         16+36+46+54+57 (76)     3:41 1-5 Split | 21:03 Avg

8              Devon Preparatory School           212         30+31+39+52+60 (61+74)          2:32 1-5 Split | 21:17 Avg

9              Lower Moreland              229         24+35+42+63+65 (73)     3:22 1-5 Split | 21:33 Avg

10           Valley Forge Military Academy   239         25+40+47+58+69 (78)     3:28 1-5 Split | 21:41 Avg

11           Delaware County Christian           246         19+43+56+62+66 (71+72)       4:06 1-5 Split | 21:47 Avg

12           Bristol   278         22+51+67+68+70 (75+77)              4:18 1-5 Split | 22:23 Avg

GIRLS VARSITY 5K

PLACE   ATHLETE                               TEAM    RESULT POINTS

1              Kerry Kovacs      12           Lower Moreland              20:39.00               1

2              Julia Mycek         11           New Hope-Solebury       21:05.00               2

3              Maggie Linton   12           Delaware County Christian School            21:23.00               3

4              Raegan Dubeck 10           Calvary Christian Academy           21:48.00               4

5              Lindsey Bernd   11           Dock Mennonite Academy          22:10.00               5

6              Abigail Brown    10           Calvary Christian Academy           22:12.00               6

7              Emma Pizer        10           Jenkintown        22:17.00               7

8              Tabitha Liucci     12           New Hope-Solebury       22:23.00               8

9              Lael Flores           10           Dock Mennonite Academy          22:36.00               9

10           Camryn McCloskey         12           Dock Mennonite Academy          22:50.00               10

11           Danielle Herbert               9              New Hope-Solebury       22:54.00               11

12           Erica Gunden     11           Dock Mennonite Academy          23:12.00               12

13           Lizzie Harmon    12           Lower Moreland              23:21.00               13

14           Juliana Rotelle   12           Dock Mennonite Academy          23:32.00               14

15           Kelli Schlussel    10           New Hope-Solebury       23:32.50               15

16           Isabella Byler     10           Jenkintown        23:42.00               16

17           Alana Bergey     12           Dock Mennonite Academy          24:21.00               17

18           Amelia Wurster                12           New Hope-Solebury       25:07.00               18

19           Caroline Arena  10           Jenkintown        25:39.00               19

20           Kayla Paul            10           New Hope-Solebury       25:47.00               20

21           Margaret Davis 10           Jenkintown        25:51.00               21

22           Elise Fauske        10           Calvary Christian Academy           25:52.00               22

23           Corinne Nagle   12           Lower Moreland              25:57.00               23

24           Rachael Millan   12           Lower Moreland              26:08.00               24

25           Cora Castor         12           Lower Moreland              26:11.00               25

26           Amy Yoon           11           Lower Moreland              26:39.00               26

27           Katie Powala      10           Delaware County Christian School            26:54.00               27

28           Julianna Slominski            10           New Hope-Solebury       27:05.00               28

29           Shannon Long   12           Lower Moreland              27:28.00               29

30           Taylor DiJoseph                10           Lower Moreland              27:29.00               —

31           Kaelyn Cooper  11           Delaware County Christian School            27:30.00               30

32           Avery McKeaney             9              Delaware County Christian School            28:19.00               31

33           Katy Tanis            11           Delaware County Christian School            28:37.00               32

34           Abbey Keller      9              Dock Mennonite Academy          31:03.00               33

35           Kirsten Howland               10           Phil-Mont Christian Academy     31:14.00               —

36           Emma Montroy                10           Jenkintown        31:17.00               34

37           Luca Teichman  10           Calvary Christian Academy           31:50.00               35

38           Valentina Mills  12           Calvary Christian Academy           32:01.00               36

39           Sarah Cridland   10           Calvary Christian Academy           33:50.00               37

40           Kristen Gilmore                11           Bristol   33:55.00               —

41           Sarah Carnila      9              Calvary Christian Academy           35:01.00               38

42           Helen Sun           10           Delaware County Christian School            35:27.00               39

GIRLS TEAM SCORES

PLACE   TEAM    POINTS SCORERS              TIMES

1              Dock Mennonite Academy          50           5+9+10+12+14 (17+33)  1:22 1-5 Split | 22:52 Avg

2              New Hope-Solebury       54           2+8+11+15+18 (20+28)  4:02 1-5 Split | 23:00 Avg

3              Lower Moreland              86           1+13+23+24+25 (26+29)                5:32 1-5 Split | 24:27 Avg

4              Jenkintown        97           7+16+19+21+34                9:00 1-5 Split | 25:45 Avg

5              Calvary Christian Academy           103         4+6+22+35+36 (37+38)  10:13 1-5 Split | 26:44 Avg

6              Delaware County Christian            123         3+27+30+31+32 (39)       7:14 1-5 Split | 26:32 Avg

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