Plum runners use Kiski Invite to prepare for section championship race

By: Michael Love
Saturday, September 21, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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The Plum boys and girls cross country teams have run three meets so far in the 2024 season, and coach Brent Kennedy and his coaching staff have seen good things from the mix of returning runners and those new to varsity and junior varsity competition.

The Mustangs put their skills to the test Sept. 13 on the challenging Northmoreland Park course against a large field of competitors from schools in the Alle-Kiski Valley, throughout the WPIAL region, and from District 6 and District 10.

“It is a really nice course, and our kids love going there,” said Kennedy, who switched coaching places with his wife, Stephanie, this fall as she remains on maternity leave through the end of November. “It’s one of their favorite courses. It’s always a fun meet to be able to go up against some teams we don’t normally see and run against in triple-A races.

“It is a great time of the season to have that race because it helps the kids build strategy for the section meet on the same course in a couple of weeks.”

Plum runners will join Armstrong, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Gateway, Kiski Area, Penn Hills and Woodland Hills at Northmoreland next Tuesday (Oct. 2) for the Division I, Section 4 championships.

“Our goal is to always be ready for championship competitions, and it is nice to see the North­moreland course before sections. We also will be at White Oak twice (Red, White & Blue Invitational and Tri-State Championships) before the WPIAL championships. We use those meets to really get a feel for where we’re at and use them as a benchmark to get better and progress. We saw some good things from a number of runners at Kiski that will help them grow.”

The Plum boys placed sixth overall at the Kiski Invite as sophomore Brady Sciullo, the top returning boys runner (84th, season-best 18:06.80) from last year’s WPIAL Class 3A championships at White Oak, placed 22nd overall in a time of 18:02.

“Brady has really done a nice job as one of our younger leaders,” Kennedy said. “He has that experience from some big meets last year as a freshman, and he’s off to a good start this year.”

Sciullo also ran an 18:29.10 in a competitive Class 3A field at Red, White & Blue on Sept. 7.

“The Kiski Invite really gave me a good standpoint for where I was and what I can do to hopefully end the season strong,” Sciullo said.

“That hill in the middle (at Northmoreland) takes everything out of you. It challenges you mentally and physically.”

Junior Mayah Torres and sophomore Maura Smith topped the Plum girls team at last year’s WPIAL championships, and both are back this fall to work toward personal time improvement and raise the team’s overall performance when WPIALs arrive at White Oak on Oct. 24.

“They are our top two runners. They’ve been doing really well so far this year both on the course and with their leadership,” Kennedy said.

Torres fronted the Mustangs at the Kiski Invite in 16th with a time of 21:15.30.

Smith followed in 35th (22:17.40) as Plum finished 11th out of 19 in the team standings.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

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