Quaker Valley cross country teams enjoying special season

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, October 15, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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The Quaker Valley cross country program is having a magical season.

QV’s boys team recently took first place in the 5,000-meter Class 2A race at the Bald Eagle Invitational on Oct. 7 at White Oak Park.

The Quakers also won the River Trail and Blue Devil invites this season along with the Youthtowne Clash.

The girls team finished first the River Trail event and placed second in 2A behind Freeport at the Bald Eagle Invitational.

“Coach (Ron) Graf, our assistant coach, and I are quite proud of the boys team for winning the Bald Eagle Invitational and the girls team on its runner-up performance,” QV coach Ryan Kelly said. “We were especially happy given that our student-athletes completed our most difficult workout of the season (in the week prior to the race). For our teams to have the successes they experienced is a testament to their resiliency.”

The QV boys rang up a 9-1 record against section opponents this season to capture second place at the all-section meet.

Juniors Clark LaLomia and Jackson Pethel, sophomores Tyler Bell and River Capek and freshman Jonah Montagnese are the Quakers’ top five runners.

LaLomia and Bell ended up second and third at the Baldwin Eagle Invitational; Pethel and Montagnese secured fifth and sixth place. Capek rounded out the scoring in 13th place.

“The season has gone great so far for the boys team,” LaLomia said. “We won four of the five invites we participated in and the one we lost was without Jackson, our No. 2 runner. I’m really happy with how we have all worked together throughout training and how we all consistently put up a fight in every race we have run in, especially the underclassmen.

“I’m really excited for the next few years for the cross country team. We’ve had runners in all grades step up, and we will have 100% retention of our top five runners due to all of us being underclassmen. I think next year we are going to be a force in 2A in the WPIAL and PIAA. We have big goals and expectations and are willing to work to achieve them.”

LaLomia wrapped up second place in 15:35 at this year’s Red, White and Blue Classic to rank 12th in the state and second in school history with his time. The dedicated athlete also participates in indoor and outdoor track at QV.

“Normally, I’m an 800-meter or mile specialist,” he said, “but I’ve run everything from the 200 to the 3,200 along with the 4-by-400 and 4-by-800 relays, depending on where the team needs me.

Top reserves for the Quakers this season include seniors Matthew Cohen, Oliver Graham and Brahm Gianiodis and sophomore Ryan Kempton.

Quaker Valley’s girls team, behind the likes of junior Cecilia Montagnese, senior Ellie Cain, freshman Maggie Doz, and seniors Kate Hines and Lizzie Szuba, posted an 8-3 record at the all-section meet, good for fourth place.

“I have been really proud of the girls team,” Montagnese said. “We have seen great individual and team improvements throughout the season. Most of the girls have persevered through illness and injuries to run personal bests.

“And we have a couple of standout freshmen who have really improved our team. I know the girls and I have goals to make it to states this year.”

Montagnese competes in the distance events on the girls track team and ran a leg with the 3,200 relayers at last year’s PIAA finals.

“I’m looking forward to competing at the WPIAL championships in a couple of weeks and hopefully the state championships in November,” she said. “I hope to continue to improve my season bests.”

Montagnese and LaLomia have displayed exceptional leadership qualities as the No. 1 runners on the boys and girls teams.

“Cecilia and Clark are both outstanding leaders as they are encouraging and supportive to all of their teammates,” Kelly said. “They are both volunteer coaches with the Quaker Valley Elementary Cross Country team for grades three through six. Clark, in fact, serves as co-head coach.

“Both are committed to their training, they arrive at practice each day focused on improving, and both are extremely coachable.”

Cain normally is a top five finisher for the QV girls team but was replaced in the lineup at White Oak by freshman Kennedy O’Neill.

“Ellie was taking the SAT (during the race) and was not able to attend,” Kelly said. “We were quite appreciative of Kennedy stepping up to be our fifth runner.”

Along with O’Neill, two other leading reserves for the girls team are freshman Kate Steinfurth and junior Kendra Hines.

Quaker Valley ran against athletes from Sewickley Academy, Carlynton, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Eden Christian, Redeemer Lutheran, Northgate, Ellis, Winchester-Thurston, Hillel Academy, Bishop Canevin and Brentwood at the Bald Eagle Invitational.

“We are quite proud of the tireless efforts of our student-athletes,” Kelly said. “They are committed to their training and are such a wonderful group of young men and women.

“The support and encouragement they provide one another is truly impressive.”

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