CR nips Padua in tiebreaker
Division I Girls cross country

By BUDDY HURLOCK
Staff reporter
11/10/2002

FELTON -- It could not have been any closer.

Caesar Rodney High and Padua Academy each scored 57 points in the girls Division I race of the Delaware High School Cross Country Championships at Killens Pond State Park on Saturday.

The Riders won the title on the tiebreaker - the better finish of the teams' sixth runners. Teams score points based on the finishes of their first five runners.

Brandywine sophomore Jessica Leitsch won the 3.1-mile race in 19 minutes, 18 seconds.

Then came the first tie in any state meet race. The boys meet started in 1954 and the girls meet in 1981.

The Riders finished 3-8-11-17-18. That adds up to 57.

The Pandas went 2-9-10-16-20. That adds up to 57, too.

But CR also had a runner at 19, Natalie Robbins, whose effort ended up giving the Riders their second straight state title. Padua's sixth runner was 34th.

Robbins was the last of three CR runners who pushed ahead of one from Padua in the last 150 yards to earn a 17-18-19 finish. The sophomore said the group just saw a chance to get ahead of an opposing runner, not realizing it would decide the state championship.

"It comes down to if you believe you can do it, and we did it," Robbins said.

"We ran the best we could," said Padua freshman Samantha Lichtner, second in 19:40.

CR's Elizabeth Paul was third in 19:55.

Special to The News Journal/PAT CROWE II
Brandywine's Jessica Leitsch leads the pack on her way to victory in the girls Division I race.

 

 

 

 

 
Hillers claim their first crown
Division II Girls cross country

By BUDDY HURLOCK
Staff reporter
11/10/2002

FELTON -- Tower Hill School took four of the first five places and coasted to victory in the girls Division II race of the Delaware High School Cross Country Championships on Saturday at Killens Pond State Park.

Sophomore Lisa Klein won for the second straight year by covering the 3.1-mile course in 19 minutes, 49 seconds to lead the Hillers to their first state title.

At the start of the season, the Hillers had promise but they didn't have numbers -- until runners from the indoor and outdoor track and field teams decided to try cross country this fall.

Among those joining the team was sophomore Sara Casscells, second in 20:05, who had played field hockey.

"I had thought, 'Would I regret running cross country?' " Casscells said. "I don't think I ever will."

Tower Hill coach Cherie Martinez was elated to see seasonlong growth culminate in a state title.

"They had very aggressive goals, worked hard and are a talented group," Martinez said.

Sisters Julie Pike (20:20) and Anna Pike (21:16) placed fourth and 10th, respectively. Junior Mimi Kelly (20:25) was fifth.

When Klein won last year, the Hillers placed fourth. She had more help this time.

"I love having the team doing so well," Klein said.

Archmere won a tight battle for second place, followed by Cape Henlopen and Seaford. The only non-Hiller in the top five was Friends' Katrina Fincher, who was third in 20:06.