Shields takes runner-up in L-L Cross Country

Warwick senior Samantha Shields continues to push the pace as she tries to close in on leader Jamie Zamrin, of Cocalico, on Tuesday at the L-L Cross Country Championships. (Photo by Steve Heydt)

Warwick senior Samantha Shields continued her late-season success Tuesday by finishing second to undefeated champion Jamie Zamrin of Cocalico in the Lancaster-Lebanon League Cross Country Championships at Ephrata Middle School.

Shields’ time of 19:28.7 was nine seconds off Zamrin’s winning time of 19:19.9, as the runners were treated to sunny, 72 degree weather.

In the boys race, Manheim Central junior Galen Fitzkee was the top local performer, finishing 27th in 17:17.5, as McCaskey junior Nathan Henderson won for the second consecutive year in 15:47.8.

“I wanted to run on pace (not too fast) for the first mile,” Shields said of her strategy. “I felt good, so I kept running, but my finish wasn’t as strong as I would have liked. I definitely did a lot better than I did last year.”

The Lady Warriors finished 12th out of 22 teams in the team competition. Joining Shields in the top five were fellow senior Abby Steinour (59th, 22:04.8), senior Allison Stauffer (88th, 23:18.1), sophomore Alexis Barge (89th, 23:20.5), and senior Madeline Eberly (94th, 23:45.1).

The Lady Barons had a strong finish in the team standings, led by senior Charis Dinger, who finished 13th overall in 19:58.6. The Central girls finished sixth overall with 205 points. Manheim Township took the crown with 78 points.

“There was a lot of talent in this race,” Dinger said, “so I wanted to get a good starting pace. We didn’t know who would go to the lead.”

Also on the team scoresheet for Central was freshman Mallory Sunderland (24th, 20:26.2), fellow frosh Marianne Fitzkee (36th, 21:00.3), senior Alydia Gochnauer (69th, 22:33.2) and sophomore Aspen Bollinger (73rd, 22:38.5). The Lady Barons’ showing at the L-L League meet followed a regular season in which they finished 19-2 and captured the Section Two title.

In the boys race, the strategy was a little different for the Barons’ Fitzkee.

“I just wanted to get out fast, to get ahead of the pack, then stay on pace,” he said.

With the PIAA District Three Meet coming up on Saturday, Oct. 31 at Big Spring, he has a definite goal in mind.

“It’s a pretty flat course,” Fitzkee remarked. “I’m shooting for under 17 minutes.”

Manheim Central finished 12th in the team standings, with Fitzkee being followed to the finish line by junior Cole Sunderland (42nd, 17:46.5), freshman Carson Hepner (60th, 18:07.1), sophomore Gavin Tragis (98th, 18:44.6) and junior Brandon Greist (100th, 18:47.2).

The Warwick boys were led by junior Drayk Cassamajor (34th, 17:35.1) who took it slow in the start.

“My strategy was to take it easy over the first half, then push it from there,” he said. “I did the best I could do with the strategy I chose. If I were to do anything differently, I would go a bit stronger in the second mile.”

The Warriors finished the team competition in ninth place. In addition to Cassamajor, the Warwick runners were bunched together, including senior Matt Polonus (46th, 17:54.5), junior David Hendrix (51st, 17:58.2), senior James Latanishen (59th, 18:06.9) and junior Nicholas Gerencser (68th, 18:10.8)