Fast times and a tie in the men’s 6K highlighted the HealthAmerica XC Challenge on November 11 at Frick Park, and the host Western Pennsylvania Track Club dominated the team competition.

Finishers numbered 155 to rank as the second highest in the meet’s eight-year history: 99 in 1999, 78 in 2000, 97 in 2001, 90 in 2002, 157 in 2003, 96 in 2004, and 132 in 2005.

Runners ranged in age from 7-year-olds Kristina Garand of West Penn and Dave Provenzo of the Greensburg YMCA to 73-year-old John Harwick of West Penn.

Two West Penn families own a pair of records: Steve (40-44) and daughter Kristina Garand (6-7), and twins Dave and Mary Humphrey (5-and-under).

No Challenge records remain from the meet’s first four years (1999-2002). Twins Dave and Mary Humphrey own the oldest records with their 5-and-under marks in 2003. Three of the meet’s high school runners competed in the Foot Locker Northeast Regional Championships on November 25 in New York City: Kyle Gibson of Canon-MacMillan, Andy Lucarini of Fort Cherry, and Malcolm Muhammad of Penn Hills.

Ken and Lyn Krynski did their usual excellent job of staging the club’s annual Picnic-in-the-Park.

Fort Cherry sophomore Andy Lucarini–one week after his second straight appearance in the PIAAs–led West Penn to the 12-15 Challenge team title.

Baldwin High’s four-time PIAA champion Dan Mazzocco won the 1999-2000 16-19 Challenge titles. More recently the Penn State ace won NCAA Division I All-American XC honors for the second straight year.

Pacers (18) and St. Edmund’s (19) staged the meet’s closest team competition in the 2K women’s race.

Mark Schwartz, long-time USATF National Official, served as the meet referee.

In 2005 Carly Seymour won the PIAAs and the Challenge. In 2006 the Central Cambria High junior took the PIAA silver and then took third in the Foot Locker Northeast Regional.

Ami Steinmetz–wearing the Healthy Hound garb–started the races. She ranks as the meet’s first woman starter.

Brian Wenger of Chick-fil-A distributed 150 chicken sandwiches.

West Penn’s 50-plus men posted a lower team score than the club’s 40-49 men (96-110).

THE PHARAOH HOUNDS WOMEN AND THE WEST PENN MEN COLLECT TITLES IN THE FEATURED 6K. KNEELING (FROM LEFT): MAUREEN COPELAND, MELISSA COLE, ERIN GEMMILL, SARAH FETTERMAND, JULIE HUFNAGEL, AND KRISTEN MICSKY. STANDING (FROM LEFT): BRIAN ANDERSON, ERIC WILLIAMS, DAVE WILT, TIM CONVERSE, KEVIN HEJNA, AND MIKE WURZER. MISSING: NATE AARON AND MALCOLM MUHAMMAD. DICK FIRSCHING PHOTO

DOG TRACKS USE HUMANS TO START THE GREYHOUNDS, BUT THE HEALTHAMERICA XC CHALLENGE USES THE HEALTHY HOUND TO START THE HUMANS. DICK FIRSCHING PHOTO

MELISSA COLE OF THE PHARAOH HOUNDS WINS THE 6K IN A CONVINCING 22:35. DICK FIRSCHING PHOTO

Possibly Related Posts:

• Host West Penn Track Club Dominates at Pittsylvania XC Challenge
• WPTC Member First Masters Finisher at Great Race
• Tom Abott Profiled as Perfect Great Racer
• WPTC Member Wins Age Group at Parkersburg Half Marathon
• West Penn Dominates at Pittsylvania XC Challenge
• Influx of Runners Raises Competitive Level of Pittsylvania XC Challenge
• Ricky Moore Leads Assault on Record Books at Pittsylvania XC Challenge
• History Repeats at Pittsylvania XC Challenge
• Youth and Experience Face Off at Pittsylvania XC Challenge
• WPTC Member Wins 2007 Run Around the Square
• PA Sports Hall of Fame Induction
• 2006 Club Athletes-of-the-Year
• 2006 Club Volunteers Recognized
• Youngsters Break into Record Book at Pittsylvania Run
• 2005 Top Athletes and Volunteers
• 2005 U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Masters
• Club Members Capture "Gold" at 2005 Senior Summer Games
• Flagstaff Hill
• West Penn Runners Make Up Half of Pittsylvania Mile Field; Race’s First Married Couple Celebrate Sweep
• 2005 Boston Marathon
• 2004 Top Athletes and Volunteers
• West Penn Breaks Six Records, Establishes Two at Pittsylvania Mile Run; Rogus, Nemeth Win Event
• 2003 Top 10 Athletes
• Barry Harwick in Post Gazette's "Where are They Now" Series
• Increased Participation Leads to More Record-Setting Performances at Pittsylvania Mile Run
• 2002 Top 10 Athletes
• West Penn Cleans Up at Pittsylvania 5K
• Sobal Decimates 50-54 Record at Pittsylvania Mile
• Increased Participation and Broken Records Story of Pittsylvania Mile Run
• WPTC Member finishes 2nd at the USATF 50 Mile Trail Championship
• XC Challenge Results
• 2007 Great Race
• Mary Harwick Profiled in IUP Magazine

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