There was no catching Fox Chapel’s Ethan Vaughan at WPIAL cross-country meet

By: Josh Rizzo
Saturday, November 2, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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At one point during the WPIAL Class 3A cross-country championship race, Fox Chapel senior Ethan Vaughan felt a moment when he thought people may be catching up.

But on that day at White Oak Park, there would be no catching Vaughan.

He smashed his previous personal best by 12 seconds, finishing in 15 minutes, 26.5 seconds to claim his first district title. Vaughan came across the finish line 11 seconds ahead of North Allegheny’s Andrew Peigh.

“To be honest, the entire race I was a bit nervous, especially at the end,” Vaughan said. “I felt like they were starting to catch up to me. The second mile, I was a bit nervous. During the first mile, there was a comfortable gap where I wasn’t too nervous. But you don’t want to get too comfortable because everyone is such a good runner.”

Vaughan, who qualified for the PIAA tournament for the third time, initially planned to start the race at a more moderate pace. Instead, Vaughan got out fast and stayed with a faster tempo. Vaughan didn’t compete at WPIALs last season after suffering through a stress fracture.

“I wanted to take it easier at the beginning,” Vaughan said. “That didn’t happen. I went out fast. Once I made the gap, I was determined to hold it.”

Vaughan became the third Fox Chapel runner to win a WPIAL title. Colin Martin, who competed in the U.S. Olympic marathon trials this year, won in 2013 while Dallas Roper won in 1979.

Foxes coach Tom Moul said Vaughan fits the program’s lineage well.

“I continue to be impressed with him,” Moul said. “He’s a talent who has grown over the years. When he was a freshman, he was a part of a team that finished third at WPIALs. He continued to get better and to understand what his body can do.”

Fox Chapel placed third in the team race on the boys’ side. David Black also finished in the top 10 for the Foxes. Black ran a 15:48.5 to finish in fourth place. Michael Costello (28th, 16:36), Nicky Clump (36th, 16:40.5) and Doug Lisotto (53rd, 17:02.5) rounded out the top five for Fox Chapel.

On the girls side, the Foxes had two runners qualify for states.

Cecilia Ressler finished ninth with a time of 18:48.4. Ella Shevchuk placed 24th with a time of 19:30.9 and grabbed the final qualifying spot out of the WPIAL.

“(Cecilia) has come into her own this year,” Moul said. “She’s been so strong and dominant in some of the races. We’ve seen her confidence grow this year. Ella is figuring out what it’s all about. She has real talent.”

Discovering talent is part of the equation for finding success. The other comes down to finding the determination to push forward.

“I knew that it’s temporary,” Vaughan said. “I knew that I needed to get to the end, and it would all be over. One Scripture that gets me through it is, ‘I can do all things through God who strengthens me.’ It comforts me knowing that I have the power to get through it.”

Tags: Fox Chapel