New Year, Fresh Faces

LEMONT FURNACE, Pa. - Penn State Fayette cross country will be starting the season with a clean slate.  Newly hired coach Joe Carei entered the season with no returning runners, but is excited with the athletes he has to compete in this season's schedule.

"The team is young and raw. But, they are hard workers and as we all know, that pays off," Say Carei.  Coach Carei spent the last three years coaching at Uniontown High School, where they produced three WPIAL champions and two WPIAL team runner ups.  Before that, he was at Brownsville High School where he was a part of 8 consecutive conference Championships and coached two WPIAL Champions.

This year's Roaring Lions squad will be led by sophomore Pedro Tavarez (York Central, PA),  he will be joined by Christopher Andino-Nunez (Conrad Weiser High School), Sophomore Zain Ali (Millikin High, CA),  Freshman Jesse Varndell (Albert Gallatin, PA), and Freshman Kareem Davis(Martin County High, FL).  The women's squad is led senior Cheyanne Shandon(Mt. Pleasant, PA).

The Roaring Lions will start the season at the Greater Allegheny Invitational in McKeesport on Saturday, September 12^th.

Following that meet, the team will travel to the Philadelphia Area for the Brandywine Invitational at Penn State Brandywine, on Saturday September 19^th.  They will be tested on Saturday, September 26^th by national qualifiers  PSU Wilkes-Barre.  The Fayette harriers will begin October with consecutive races at Frostburg State and Carnegie Mellon on Saturdays, October 3^rd and 10^th. 

The PSUAC championships are to follow the regular season, on October 16^th.  The conference championships will be held at Penn State University in State College, PA.   Penn State Fayette runners also have a chance to qualify for the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Cross Country Championships, hosted by Florida College in Lakeland, FL.   A team may advance by winning the conference championship, and an individual can participate either by winning the conference meet or posting a qualifying time in the top 25 of the nation.

Coach Carei has a quiet optimism about his team this year.  "Although, we have a young team as far as running goes, I know, if we follow the plan we will reach our potential and create a foundation to build upon."  Coach Carei spent the last three years coaching at Uniontown High School, where they produced 3 WPIAL champions.  Before that, he was at Brownsville High School where he was a part of 8 consecutive conference Championships and 2 WPIAL Champions.