TSTCA cross country championships serve as preview of WPIALs
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Thursday, October 16, 2025 | 8:41 PM
Butler’s Brendan Eicher leads the pack during the Class 3A boys race at the TSTCA cross country championship meet on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park.
South Fayette’s Angela Zeng leads the pack during the Class 3A girls race at the TSTCA cross country championship meet on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park.
Knoch’s Carter French celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the Class 2A boys race at the TSTCA cross country championship meet on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park.
Hampton’s Rebekah Hall runs alone in the Class 2A girls race at the TSTCA cross country championship meet on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park.
Butler’s Brendan Eicher wins the Class 3A boys race at the TSTCA cross country championship meet on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park.
Butler’s Brendan Eicher puts on his first place medal after winning the Class 3A boys race at the TSTCA cross country championship meet on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park.
Knoch’s Carter French runs ahead of North Catholic’s Jack Steineman during the Class 2A boys race at the TSTCA cross country championship meet on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park.
Knoch’s Carter French celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the Class 2A boys race at the TSTCA cross country championship meet on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park.
South Fayette’s Angela Zeng wins the Class 3A girls race at the TSTCA cross country championship meet on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park.
Hampton’s Rebekah Hall wins the Class 2A girls race at the TSTCA cross country championship meet on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park.
Winchester Thurston’s Abigail Weinstein runs at the front during the Class A girls race at the TSTCA cross country championship meet on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park.
Winchester Thurston’s Abigail Weinstein wins the Class A girls race at the TSTCA cross country championship meet on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park.
Winchester Thurston’s Abigail Weinstein hugs Zoe Vandivier after winning the Class A girls race at the TSTCA cross country championship meet on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park.
Winchester Thurston’s Jack Iyer runs at the front during the Class A boys race at the TSTCA cross country championship meet on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park.
Winchester Thurston’s Jack Iyer wins the Class A boys race at the TSTCA cross country championship meet on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park.
A PIAA official starts the Class 2A boys race at the TSTCA cross country championship meet on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park.
Latrobe’s Charlie Heese eyes up the finish line during the Class 3A boys race at the TSTCA cross country championship meet on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park.
Latrobe’s Charlie Heese runs in the Class 3A boys race at the TSTCA cross country championship meet on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park.
With the WPIAL cross country championships just a week away, Thursday’s Tri-State Track Coaches Association race became a tune-up.
Sunny weather and low-60s temperatures greeted more than 1,000 runners at the White Oak course. There were plenty of runners who broke personal records.
The six winners were Butler junior Brendan Eicher (3A boys), South Fayette sophomore Angela Zeng (3A girls), Knoch junior Carter French (2A boys), Hampton junior Rebekah Hall (2A girls), Winchester Thurston junior Jack Iyer (A boys) and Winchester Thurston senior Abigail Weinstein (A girls).
Not all the top teams participated. Hempfield, Norwin, Quaker Valley and Riverview opted to rest for the WPIAL race Oct. 23 on the same course.
“I accomplished what I needed,” Eicher said. “I broke my PR (personal record) by 13 seconds (15 minutes, 31.51 seconds). Now I am going to focus on WPIALs.
“I wanted to see where I had to start my kick. I pulled away on the final curve and held on.”
Eicher comes from a strong Butler program that produces top runners every year.
North Allegheny senior Andrew Peigh was second (15:38.60), and Upper St. Clair senior Nolan Sarkett was third (15:40.26). North Allegheny won the team title.
Latrobe junior Charlie Heese, who won the Red, White and Blue Invitational, said he used this race as a scouting mission. He wanted to see where his competition stood.
“I am not worried,” Heese said. “This was not the race I want to run my fastest time.”
Heese won the Red, White and Blue Invitational in a time of 15:37. Thursday, he ran 16:21.66 and finished 15th.
“I wanted to run stress free,” Heese said. “We had a workout on Wednesday, and I felt it. I did not want to push it then.”
Zeng breezed to her victory. She was 21 seconds faster than Altoona junior Ashlyn Noce (18:06.98). Zeng ran a 17:45.19, a PR by 16 seconds.
“I was able to run my race,” Zeng said. “I was very confident, and I get that confidence from my teammates.”
South Fayette won the girls team title.
Zeng finished third at the Red, White and Blue Invitational behind Norwin senior Annie Czakjowski and North Allegheny freshman Samantha Strelick, who finished third.
French (15:31.27) took the Class 2A title by outpacing North Catholic sophomore Jack Steineman (15:39.40).
“There were a bunch of talented runners,” French said. “I am very excited. This sets me up for next week. I have had some up-and-down races here.”
Hall crossed the finish line 6 seconds ahead of North Catholic senior Madeline Meeuf. Hall ran a PR of 18:57.63 and Meeuf a PR 19:06.32.
The North Catholic boys and girls won the team titles.
“Winning was my first priority, but I assumed the PR would come with winning,” Hall said. “This was a nice preview and gave me confidence. And I had a great kick.”
The Class A races were dominated by Winchester Thurston as it swept the team titles behind its individual champs.
Iyer raced past Mohawk senior Scott McConnell by 12 seconds. Iyer ran a 16:10.30, a PR by 12 seconds, and McConnell a 16:22.27. Carlynton junior Ethan Moldovan was third.
“I think what the girls did inspired us,” Iyer said. “I just took it as kind a confidence builder. This was my first big race I won.”
Weinstein was the first of three Winchester Thurston runners to earn the top spots.
She ran an 18:54.39, Currence Bigham ran a 19:30.47 and Miri Shaw a 19:57.22.
“I am very excited to get the win,” Weinstein said. “This was a big preview for next week. I know OLSH and Shady Side Academy ran in the Class 3A race, so we will see what happens next week. This was good for us.”
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.
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