Latrobe’s Charlie Heese, other Westmoreland County runners geared up for WPIAL cross country meet

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | 8:14 PM

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Latrobe junior Charlie Heese opened some eyes when he won the Red, White and Blue Invitational at White Oak Park last month.

When he returned six weeks later to compete in the Tri-State Track Coaches Association Invitational, he finished 15th.

But Heese was not disappointed. He used the race as a scouting mission for Thursday’s WPIAL cross country championship.

“The biggest race is the WPIAL championship,” Heese said. “I just wanted to see who my competition would be. I will be ready.”

Heese was not the only runner scouting the field. Many runners felt the same as Heese.

Runners were greeted with perfect weather conditions last week — temperatures in the mid 60s and dry.

The conditions will be a little different Thursday as the forecast is for the low 50s and dry.

“I know the competition will be a lot stronger,” Winchester Thurston senior Abigail Weinstein said. “I know Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and Shady Side Academy decided to run in the Class 3A race.

“We decided to run in our own division. I feel that was the best for us.”

South Fayette girls look strong in Class 3A, led by sophomore Angela Zheng.

But Zheng knows it will take an amazing performance to beat Norwin, this year’s favorite.

“When I ran in the Red, White and Blue, I finished third behind the Norwin girl and North Allegheny girl,” Zheng said. “I was able to defeat the NA girls, but (Annie) Czajkowski is very good.”

Czajkowski, who recently committed to Pitt, said she hopes to lead the Knights to their first title since 2009. The Norwin boys won last year.

Knoch junior Carter French let out a yell when he crossed the finish line last week.

He was able to edge out North Catholic senior Jack Steineman.

“That win was a big confidence builder for me,” French said. “It sets me up for next week’s championship.”

Butler junior Brendan Eicher won the Class 3A boys race last week. He continues the streak of great runners from Butler.

Drew Griffith (2022-23) and C.J. Singleton (2020-21) have won titles in recent years.

“We just have a great running program,” Eicher said. “The standards are high. Drew and C.J. showed us the way.”

Winchester Thurston junior Jack Iyer said he was excited about his performance. The win helped his confidence.

Other Class A runners to watch are Mohawk senior Scott McDonald and Sewickley Academy sophomore Zach Sharara.

Hampton junior Rebekah Hall won the Class 2A race, but North Catholic senior Madeline Meeuf led the Trojans to the team title.

“I was happy with my race, but I was proud of my teammates,” Meeuf said. “They ran a great race.”

Meeuf is hoping she and her teammates can celebrate WPIAL and PIAA titles.

Some of the top teams – Norwin, Hempfield and Quaker Valley – missed the Tri-State Invitational to train.

WPIAL Cross Country Championship

White Oak Park

Thursday’s schedule

Class 2A: 11 a.m. (girls) and 11:45 a.m. (boys).

Class 3A: 1 p.m. (girls) and 1:45 p.m. (boys).

Class A: 3 p.m. (girls) and 3:45 p.m. (boys).

2024 champions: 3A boys – Ethan Vaughn, Fox Chapel; 2A boys – Michael Braun, Freeport; A boys – Jaxon Schoedel, Mohawk. 3A girls – Annabel Johnson, Woodland Hils; 2A — Cecilia Montagnese, Quaker Valley; A – Bridget McNamara, Carlynton.

This and that: North Allegheny girls have won seven consecutive Class 3A titles (2018-2024). … Norwin last won in 2009. Returning girls champions are Hampton in Class 2A and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Class A. … The returning boys champions are the Norwin boys in Class 3A (snapping North Allegheny’s six-year reign), Quaker Valley in Class 2A and Riverview in Class A. Riverview has won back-to-back titles and three of the last four. … Hempfield boys won the Red, White and Blue Invitational but have never won a WPIAL cross country title.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.