The cross country season comes to a close Saturday at Hersheypark with the running of the PIAA Cross Country championships.
Six races in all three boys and girls classifications begin at 9:30 a.m.
Here is PennLive’s look at boys harriers to keep an eye on in Saturday’s PIAA Cross Country Championships.
—
State College’s Theo Oppermann during the Carlisle Invitational cross country meet. Sept.27, 2025. FILE PHOTOSean Simmers ssimmers@pennlive.c
CLASS 3A (1:15 p.m.)
Benjamin McBride, sophomore, Norwin: McBride stepped up and won the WPIAL (District 7) championship last weekend in a personal record time of 15:27.80.
Travis Furmanski, senior, Cedar Crest: Furmanski, the Lancaster-Lebanon League champ, won his third consecutive meet last weekend at the District 3 championships, when he led the pack home in a time of 15:23.87.
Nicholas Mazzeo, senior Lower Merion: Mazzeo, the District 1 runner-up last week in a time of 15:00, placed second behind Carter Smith of Mifflin County in last year’s PIAA 3A race. Mazzeo, who has finished first or second in nine races this season.
Alexander Mazzeo, senior, Lower Merion: Mazzeo won the District 1 championship in a time of 14:58.50 and has placed first or second in six meets this season.
Theo Oppermann, junior, State College: Oppermann ran second to Carter Smith of Mifflin County in both the Mid-Penn Conference championships and at the District 6 3A meet. Oppermann’s D6 time was 15:19.90. Oppermann finished fifth at the 2024 state meet.
Carter Smith, senior, Mifflin County: Smith, an Oklahoma State commit, is gunning for consecutive Class 3A state championship after winning the District 6 3A crown last weekend in 15:14.90. Smith won the Mid-Penn Conference championship two weeks prior. Smith covered the Hersheypark course in 15:54 when winning the PIAA Foundation Meet in October and his state gold time over the course in 2024 was 15:41.
CLASS 2A (12:30 p.m.)
Carter French, junior, Knoch: French placed second in the WPIAL (District 7) championships in 15:36.60 and finished 11th in last year’s PIAA 2A championship race.
Blake Glass, senior, Fort LeBoeuf: Glass took down the District 10 2A meet crown last weekend in a personal best time of 15:38.00
Ryan Gourley, senior, Oley Valley: Gourley fashioned back-to-back District 3 2A titles, winning last week’s championship race in 15:42.70. Gourley placed 19th in last years PIAA 2A championship race.
Jonah Montagnese, junior, Quaker Valley: Montagnese won the WPIAL (District 7) championship last weekend in 15:08.70. Last year, Montagnese placed seventh in the PIAA 2A race.
Tyce Shaner, senior, Hughesville: Shaner won the District 4 2A title last weekend in a time of 15:58 and finished 10th in last year’s 2A state championship race.
CLASS 1A (11:45 a.m)
Michael Fritz, senior, Northwest Area: Fritz was the District 4 1A champion harrier, setting a final time of 16:07. Fritz finished eighth in the 1A state championship race last year.
Kendel Jones, senior, Elk Lake: Jones wrapped up back-to-back District 2 crowns last weekend, setting a time of 15:26.68. Jones placed fifth in the 1A state championship race last year.
Gus Seifferlein, junior, Veritas Academy: Seifferlein took down the District 3 1A crownlast weekend in a time of 16:09.66.
Zachary Sharara, sophomore, Sewickley Area: Sharara won the WPIAL (District 7) championship last week in a time of 15:41.60
Gabe Simkiss, junior, Regina Luminus Academy: Simkiss won the District 1 1A title last weekend in a personal best time of 15:41.10. Simkiss was also a winner at the Carlisle Invitational small schools race.
Listen to the Pa. High School Football Report podcast
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.