Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Media Boys Cross Country All-Area Team
Postseason success packed this year’s All-Area Team for Boys Cross Country.
Archbishop Wood’s Gary Martin raced to his second straight PIAA State Title in Class 2A.
Martin raced to a winning time of 15 minutes, 46.7 seconds, crossing the line more than 12 seconds before his closest competitor. Martin also improved tremendously upon his 2020 win, when he crossed the line in 16:12.
Hatboro-Horsham’s Brian DiCola surged to ninth in Class 3A.
The La Salle boys capped a magnificent season with a second-place finish at states, led by Will Rau.
The Jenkintown boys maintained their position atop the Bicentennial Athletic League and also District 1-1A.
That’s 13 Bicentennial Athletic League titles in a row for Jenkintown, which had a nice-tight pack climbing the hills at Tyler State Park for BAL’s, led by Michell.
The Drakes took the top three spots and five of the top nine in running away to the team title with 20 points.
Michell won the individual title.
“We’ve got the title the past 13 years so it’s kind of expected, but even after losing four out of our top five from last year, it feels good that we could still come back and do well as a team,” he said.
Matt Castronuovo of Upper Dublin had one of his finest races of the year in the biggest race of the year, battling to 28th at PIAA’s.
Anthony Gargani of Lansdale Catholic was one to watch in Class 2A, as the senior finished out his high school career strong with a solid race at the PIAA Championships, placing ninth in Class 2A.
Methacton’s Vaughn Lackman, another senior, was in the hunt in PIAA-3A, as he earned himself a state medal and a 22nd-place finish in Hershey.
Lackman also turned it on at the Pioneer Athletic Conference Championships to get his postseason rolling. Lackman kicked to an impressive time of 16:16, good for second place honors in the conference.
That helped the Warriors place second as a team and earn the runner-up trophy.
Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Media Boys Cross Country All-Area Team
First Team
Brian DiCola, Hatboro-Horsham, Junior
Gary Martin, Archbishop Wood, Senior
Vaughn Lackman, Methacton, Senior
Anthony Gargani, Lansdale Catholic, Senior
Oliver Michell, Jenkintown, Junior
Will Rau, La Salle, Senior
Matt Castronuovo, Upper Dublin, Junior
Second Team
Zachary Brill, La Salle, Senior
Cole Casadei, La Salle, Sophomore
Drew Brill, La Salle, Junior
Nikolaus Mangeot, Central Bucks West, Senior
Brennan Wellock, Central Bucks West, Senior
Owen Donaher, Central Bucks West, Junior
Francis Dougherty, La Salle, Senior
Honorable Mention
Chris McGlynn, Methacton, Senior
Bryan Landsberg, Methacton, Senior
Eric Mass, Central Bucks West, Senior
Ryan McGinley, La Salle, Junior
Ryan Martin, Pennridge, Senior
Jack Becker, Lower Moreland, Junior
Jake Licata, Wissahickon, Senior
