By JACK IRELAND
Staff reporter
09/22/2002

FELTON -- Junior Charles Gibson and his Dover High teammates gave No. 1-ranked Salesianum a scare in Saturday's 45th annual Lake Forest Invitational boys cross country meet at Killens Pond State Park.

Gibson was the surprise winner of the 3.1-mile Boys A race in 16 minutes, 44 seconds, and teammate Rich Worley was third in 16:55. Ciri Thomas of Linganore (Md.) was second, and Chad Darlington of St. Mark's took fourth.

Sallies seniors PJ Meany and Ryan Hamill were sixth and seventh, respectively, with identical times of 17:01. Dover's Patrick Boyle took ninth.

Sallies placed five runners in the top 15 and beat Dover 48-63 for the team championship. St. Mark's was third with 73.

Archmere's Peter McBride (16:57) beat rival Kyle Kershner (16:59) of Tatnall to defend his crown in the Boys B race as the Auks easily won the team title with 49 points to Tatnall's 104.

The Auks' depth included Jason Nista (sixth), Chris Bourke (seventh) and Eric Longo (12th).

Gibson was just behind Kyle Hoffman of St. Mark's when a pack of runners came out of the woods with about 800 meters to go. From there, he took control before collapsing in the heat and humidity after crossing the finish line.

"This is really a big win for me," Gibson said. "I think I was strong for 2 1/2 miles. I thought I might fall behind the last half-mile but pulled ahead right before the homestretch.''

The Sals' other scorers in the top 15 were Joe Donnelly (10th), Sean DeCecchis (11th) and Mike Zeberkiewicz (14th).

Archmere's McBride said his strategy was to keep an eye on Kershner, the defending Division II state champion.

"I was with him well through three miles,'' McBride said. "I thought he might pull away, but somehow I got in front and went off. The first half-mile was all in the sun and I wasn't that strong. The second mile was shaded. It was pretty much grin and bear it. Kyle was kind of the man to beat. He's a great runner.'

By JACK IRELAND
Staff reporter
09/22/2002

FELTON -- Lisa Klein of Tower Hill School and Jessica Leitsch of Brandywine are considered two of the most gifted cross country runners in the state.

The heat and humidity didn't seem to matter Saturday as the two sophomores showed that talent with convincing wins in the Lake Forest Invitational at Killens Pond State Park.

Klein posted the best time, winning the girls varsity B race for smaller schools in 19:22. Kelly Sullivan of Maryvale Prep (Md.) was second in 19:38.

Leitsch won the girls A race in 19:58. Kashante Codner of Caesar Rodney was second (20:23), Padua's Samantha Lichtner was third and Brandywine's Anna Brousell was fourth.

CR, with four runners in the top 15, won the A race with 51 points. Padua was second with 59 and Brandywine third (65).

Maryvale, getting second and fourth from Kelly and Glenna Sullivan, edged Tower Hill 74-76 for the B team title.

Klein, the defending Division II state champion, took the lead from the start, adjusting quickly to the flat, 3.1-mile course.

"I was all right with the heat. I was in this race last year and came down here about two weeks ago for a practice run,'' said Klein, who was seventh here in 2001.

"There's not that much of a difference in courses for me. I like the hills, because it gives me an advantage against the downstate people, who don't train on them."

Leitsch said the Killens course presents its own challenges.

"I'm used to running more uphill courses like Brandywine Creek and Lums Pond, but I like it here,'' said Leitsch, who has been running varsity since eighth grade.

"They are all tough. Running in the woods, I felt pretty good, but it was so hot when we came out, I couldn't wait to get to the end.''