Greensburg Salem runners off to fast start

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, September 18, 2017 | 4:27 PM

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Though Greensburg Salem cross country has been successful in recent years, coach Nathan Snider was pleasantly surprised to see how his teams performed at the 15th annual Red, White and Blue Classic in Schenley Park on Sept. 9.

The Golden Lions took first in the Class AA boys standings, while the girls finished second.

The boys team, which claimed the program's first WPIAL title last season, was led by junior Cameron Binda's third-place finish in 15 minutes, 52.2 seconds, and junior Mark Brown was fifth (16:12.7) in the Class AA/A race.

Winchester Thurston senior Tristan Forsythe (15:33.6) edged Grove City junior Jonah Powell (15:39.3) to win the race.

Golden Lions junior Dylan Binda finished 16th (16:47.7), and sophomore Noah Calisti finished 43rd (17:44.7). Freshman Quinton Gatons placed 54th (18:00.7).

“On the boys side, our first three guys are really good so there is no surprise with that. We obviously can't have success without those first three guys. The surprise was our fourth, fifth and sixth guy running as well as they did,” Snider said.

“I wouldn't really say they weren't performing to what I thought they were capable of performing to. It was more that you don't know at this point in the season, you don't know what you and the other teams have.”

The Golden Lions are looking to replace graduates David Ammons and Frankie King, who helped the team finish eighth at the PIAA Class AA championship last season. Brown finished seventh and Cameron Binda finished 17th at states last season.

On the girls side, the Golden Lions were led last week by senior Emma Andrasko's sixth-place finish (19:54.1).

Sophomore Marie Scarpa was 18th (20:44.8), junior Maddie Murtland finished 25th (21:01.3), sophomore Jamie Tanto placed 28th (21:04.6) and junior Natalia Zucco was 57th (22:12.9).

The Golden Lions are looking for Scarpa and Murtland to replace the production lost from PIAA qualifier Riley Kwiatkowski, who is running at Toledo. Kwiatkowski finished 14th at the PIAA Class AA meet last season.

“Last year, she didn't lose a dual meet. You are losing your No. 1 girl who is scoring you one point. Marie and Maddie have both stepped up this year,” Snider said.

“As much as it hurts, and we would be much better with her, but those two girls have really closed the gap.”

The Golden Lions defeated Yough and Latrobe in a dual meet Sept. 12. The boys and the girls beat Yough, 15-50, while the boys defeated Latrobe, 20-42, and the girls won 23-33.

The biggest dual meet of the season awaits, however, as they will face Hempfield and Norwin on Tuesday. The results could decide who captures the Division I, Section 1 title.

“We have a big meet this week with Hempfield and Norwin this week,” Snider said. “I feel like if we don't win the section, Norwin is going to.”

Andrew John is a freelance writer.

Tags: Greensburg Salem