Perkiomen Valley’s Johnson, Owen J. Roberts’ Kratz wins individual gold, lead teams to titles at PAC Cross Country Championships

October 20, 2023

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WORCESTER >> The day was doubly delightful for Ian Johnson and Jane Kratz.

They both logged two-championship showings during Thursday’s Pioneer Athletic Conference meet at Heebner Park. Johnson’s first in the boys’ race led Perkiomen Valley to its league title, and Kratz did the same for Owen J. Roberts in the girls’ race.

Johnson covered the Heebner course in an even 16 minutes, part of a big showing by the Viking boys that saw them place three runners in the Top Four to break up what was a three-way regular-season tie in the PAC’s Liberty Division. Sophomore teammates Cooper Hey and Nathan Boyer went a respective third and fourth in the finishing order for PV, whose 33 points edged co-leaders Methacton (38 points) and Spring-Ford (49).

“This is what I came out to do,” the Viking senior said after outrunning Methacton freshman Brock Yoder for PAC gold. “A team and personal championship … I’m happy about that.”

Methacton’s Brock Yoder, left, and Perkiomen Valley’s Ian Johnson lead the boys’ field during the PAC Cross Country Championships at Heeber Park in Worcester on Oct. 19, 2023. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)

Kratz had a more dominating run among the girls, the Owen J. junior clocking an 18:26 ahead of the Viking duo of Allie Matasich and Sienna Miller. The Roberts girls had three runners place in the Top 10 to record 39 points ahead of Phoenixville (54) and Perkiomen Valley (98).

“We worked hard all season,” she noted. “It’s exciting.”

Matasich noted she was focused on keeping pace with Kratz.

“Jane is a good pacer,” she said. “I wanted to stay with her as much as I could, to try and go out strong the first mile.”

Owen J. Roberts’ Jane Kratz, left, and Perkiomen Valley’s Allison Matasich lead the girls’ race at the PAC Cross Country Championships at Heeber Park in Worcester on Oct. 19, 2023. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)

The boys’ race evolved into a two-man contest by the time the field passed the gazebo on the course, Johnson and Yoder running side-by-side. By the time they climbed the slope leading into the final loop to the finish line, Johnson led Yoder by approximately 10 seconds.

At the finish, Johnson was 18 seconds in front. Yoder placed second in 16:18, followed by Boyertown’s Aiden Voth (16:39), Phoenixville’s Will Brennfleck (16:46) and PV’s Hey (16:51).

“Out in the woods, he was pushing me,” Johnson said of Yoder, a freshman whose time was a personal best for his home course, “I knew I’d have to start pushing. My plan coming in was, when I was comfortable, to start kicking and come out with the win.”

Yoder gave credits to Johnson, a familiar opponent from the regular season, for his winning run.

“He’s bigger, older and faster,” Yoder said. “At the Twilight Invitational at Souderton (Oct. 7), I was leading but then he pulled ahead.”

Rounding out the boys’ Top 10 were PV’s Boyer (16:52), Spring-Ford’s Willie Wiles (16:59), Methacton’s Charlie Retih (17:00), the Rams’ Ethan Tharp (17:02) and Upper Merion’s Dante Churchville (17:07).

Suffice it to say, the Vikes’ first PAC championship since 2008 made head coach Ryan Sullivan quite happy.

“Ian’s performance … he’s had a great season, and he’s peaking at the right time,” Sullivan said. “Jason Clifford placing fourth on the team (17th place) won it for us.”

Perkiomen Valley’s Cooper Hey and Nathan Boyer hug after finishing fifth and sixth in the boys’ race at the PAC Cross Country Championships at Heeber Park in Worcester on Oct. 19, 2023. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)

Behind Kratz, the Vikes’ Matasich/Miller duo finished with respective times of 18:50 and 19:18. Phoenixville senior Kenzie Padilla was fourth (19:42) and Methacton’s Molly Thomas (19:46).

“I wanted to stay at the front as long as I could,” the OJR junior said. “The last kilometer, I pushed it.”

Owen J. Roberts and the rest of the field start the girls’ race at the PAC Cross Country Championships at Heeber Park in Worcester on Oct. 19, 2023. OJR won the team championship. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)

The Wildcat tandem of Ellie Thompson (19:51) and Khya D’Angelo (19:55) went 6-7 in the finishing order. Behind them were Boyertown’s Evangelina Montanye (19:55) and Phoenixville’s Zoe Cimo (19:56) and Anna Carruthers (20:00).

“I’m so thrilled for them,” OJR head coach Tim Marcoe said. “They worked so hard, racing as a group. They pick people off, and they’re super competitive.”

The Roberts girls’ title run was aided by the high finishes of Nora Horton (11th, 20:02) and Ava Taylor (15th, 20:19). For the PV boys, Alex Corbin chipped in with a 20th place (17:37) outing.

NOTES

Johnson had been a dual-sport competitor in cross country and boys soccer prior to his decision to focus on running. “Some days I did both, having a race and a soccer game,” he said. “It was hard for me to give up soccer.” … Matasich on her teaming with Miller: “I try to use her as someone to go off. It’s nice to have a teammate who’s strong like that.” … The PAC teams next head to Lehigh University for next week’s District 1 meet. Kratz had a notable showing in the Brown girls event of the Paul Short Run, placing sixth in 18:28 to lead Roberts’ second-place team finish. “It was a great meet,” she said.

Spring-Ford’s Ethan Tharp and the boys’ field begin the boys’ race at the PAC Cross Country Championships at Heeber Park in Worcester on Oct. 19, 2023. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
Boyertown’s Aiden Voth races during the PAC Cross Country Championships. Voth placed third. (Austin Hertzog- MNG)
Perkiomen Valley’s Allison Matasich climbs a hill during the girls’ race at the PAC Cross Country Championships at Heeber Park in Worcester on Oct. 19, 2023. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)

Pioneer Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships

At Heebner Park

BOYS

TEAM STANDINGS: 1. Perkiomen Valley (PV) 49, 2. Methacton (Me) 55, 3. Spring-Ford (SF) 69, 4. Phoenixville (Px) 136, 5. Upper Merion (UMe) 150, 6. Upper Perkiomen (UP) 162, 7. Boyertown (Bt) 163, 8. Owen J. Roberts (OJR) 193, 9. Pope John Paul II (PJP), 10. Pottsgrove (Pg) 305, 11. Norristown (Nt) 314.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: 1. Ian Johnson (PV) 16:00, 2. Brock Yoder (Me) 16:18, 3. Aiden Voth (Bt) 16:39, 4. Will Brennfleck (Px) 16:46, 5. Cooper Hey (PV) 16:51, 6. Nathan Boyer (PV) 16:52, 7. Willie Wiles (SF) 16:59, 8. Charlie Retih (Me), 17:00, 9. Ethan Tharp (SF) 17:02, 10. Dante Churchville (UMe) 17:07, 11. Colin Odonnell (Me) 17:09, 12. Oscar Loreni (OJR) 17:11, 13. Jacob Delgado (SF) 17:11, 14. Anthony Tonrambe (UMe) 17:12, 15. Roman Macedo (UP) 17:14, 16. Matthew Sandner (Me) 17:16, 17. Jason Clifford (PV) 17:23, 18. Nathan Alex (Me) 17:25, 19. Shihan Ayman (SF) 17:37, 20. Alex Corbin (PV) 17:37, 21. Augustus Smith (SF) 17:43, 22. John Kuzmission (UP) 17:44, 23. Tyler Rifkin (Me) 17:44, Kyle Padilla (Px) 17:48, 25. Jedd King (SF) 17:49.

GIRLS

TEAM STANDINGS: 1. Owen J. Roberts (OJR) 39, 2. Phoenixville (Px) 54, 3. Perkiomen Valley (PV) 98, 4. Upper Perkiomen (UP) 113, 5. Spring-Ford (SF) 132, 6. Boyertown (Bt) 158, 7. Methacton (Me) 210, 8. Pope John Paul II (PJP) 212, 9. Upper Merion (UMe) 225, 10. Norristown (Nt) 277.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: 1. Jane Kratz (OJR) 18:26, 2. Allie Matasich (PV) 18:50, 3. Sienna Miller (PV) 18:50, 4. Kenzie Padilla (Px) 19:42, 5. Molly Thomas (Me) 19:46, 6. Ellie Thompson (OJR), 19:51, 7. Khya Dangelo (OJR) 19:55, 8. Evangelina Montanye (Bt) 19:56, 9 Zoe Cimo (Px) 19:56, 10. Anna Carruthers (Px) 20:00, 11. Nora Horton (OJR) 20:02. 12. Josephine Reed (Px) 20:06, 13. Abigail Rowland (UP) 20:14. 14. Ava Taylor (OJR) 20:19, 15. Avah Savage (Nt) 20:23, 16. Emerson Whetstone (PV) 20:24, 17. Maren Landis (UP) 20:24, 18. Amelie Blatz (OJR) 20:25, 19. Elizabeth Barbash (Px) 20:27, 20. Elsa Lucas (Pg) 20:48, 21. Halle Kish (OJR), 20:56, 22. Caitlin Omeacham (Px) 21:08, 23. Ava Hensley (SF) 21:21, 24. Rilee Feldmann (SF) 21:23, 25. Mary Zollers (PJP) 21:34.