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`The Delaware University Blue Hen Classic on Saturday, Oct. 18 was a crucial meet that would set the pace for the rest of the Millersville Cross Country team’s season.
This race was the last hard race the Marauder’s would run until the PSAC regional championships on November 1.
“This race was the last test to evaluate the athletes and the performance and how ready they are for the PSAC championships,” Head Coach Andy Young said.
The Marauder’s passed the test with flying colors.
“Both the men’s and women’s teams had a really good race.” Young said.
The women had some major accomplishments as a team, and also as individuals. Priscilla Jennings broke the Blue Hen’s record for the women with the fastest time ever to run that course. She ran the race in 18:03.56 and beat the old record by 18 seconds.
“Priscilla had a very good race, she had a strategy of going out really hard for the first mile and everyone thought she would burn out but they didn’t know what she was capable of,”Young said.
This marked the second week in a row that Jennings has placed first. She has now finished fourth or better in her the last four events.
She wanted to not die out, but do the opposite she gained a lead that kept anyone from catching her.
Brittany Zuver had another good race as she placed sixth in the race with a time of 19:09.17. According to Young, “Jessica Leddy had a big break through race; she’s really starting to come on.”
Leddy placed 13th in the race with a time of 19:32.99. The women as a whole came in second place overall the only team to beat them was the host Delaware.
“The women have become very motivated as a team and did a great job of staying together in a pack.” Young said
The men also excelled at the Delaware race.
“Malloy and Boyer had a 1-2 punch in the top ten in the race,” Young said. “They have should do really well at PSAC championships because it’s a longer race that’s what they’re good at.”
Adam Malloy and James Boyer had another to performance for the Marauders.
Malloy finished second with a time of 26:43.95, just under one minute off the first-place time set by Pittsburgh’s Greg Kareis.
Boyer followed just two seconds behind Malloy.
“The men had a really strong pack five or six of them stayed together for a good portion of race,” Young said. “We did well against some tough teams.”
The men’s team took third overall in the race with a total of 32 points.
Delaware, who hosted the event, finished in first place as a team.
They trailed Pittsburgh, who finished with 23 points.
Junior Joshua Foulds placed 20th with a time of 27:16.57.
Senior Ben Brewer finished with a time 27:33.56 and 26th.
The Marauder’s are preparing for the biggest race of the season the PSAC championships that take place on November 1.
They have one race left before the big race, held right here in Lancaster. This Saturday, the team will take part in the Battle for the Buggy at 10 a.m.
According to Young, “We are going to sit our top runners for this race this will give our other runners a chance to step up and really give them a chance to show what they can do.”
The Battle for the Buggy will be the Marauders’ last race before Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships.
The Marauders are at the peak point of training and should be in the best shape of the season carrying them into PSAC championships.
According to Young, “They will have a little more intense training and then will die down (not as much distance) before the PSAC championships in less then two weeks.”
With the team at its peak performance, and the guidance of Young, along with stand out stars like Jennings, and Malloy, the Marauder’s are bound to do very well at PSAC championships.
Like many people say this one is for all the marbles, and that’s the case for the Millersville cross country team on Nov. 1.