XC looking for continued success
Lemont Furnace, PA - When the Penn state Fayette Cross Country team last raced a full season, the men's team was winning the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national championship and the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference championship at the end of the 2019 season.
With the 2020 season lost to the COVID-19 pandemic, minus a handful of spring 2020 meets, the program also lost several runners but several key contributors from both the 2019 men's and women's teams.
"A lot has changed in the two years," said head coach Joe Carei. "I was worried about the athletes' mental health but now that we have been training, all seems good. We have new leadership, and I am excited to see what running for two years with only some racing will produce."
The men's team lost All-American Nyoah Marteny and USCAA Runner of the Year Michael Elliot while the only returning female with ample experience from 2019 is Haley Miller.
Carei will be counting on Miller as well as Drew Erdman (Greensburg, PA/Greensburg Salem HS) and Mitch Minda (Elizabeth, PA/Elizabeth Forward HS) to be leaders.
"I am hoping Drew, who missed All-American status by one place, and Mitchell will be able to fill the void (on the men's side)," Carei said. "The women's team is revamped with only Haley back. But we have some legitimate runners who can vie for conference, and even national, honors."
Returning starters on the men's side, along with Erdman and Minda, include PJ Savini (Uniontown, PA/Laurel Highlands), Ben Witt (Uniontown, PA/Uniontown HS), Joe O'Connell (West Mifflin, PA/West Mifflin HS), Alex Gostev (), Hayden Rhodes (Brownsville, PA/Brownsville HS) and Arlo Helms (Connellsville, PA/Connellsville HS).
Other than Miller, the only two women who return in any capacity are Chloe Kalp () and Josie Pinduro (Hopwood, PA/Geibel Catholic).
Carei spoke about his expectations for the team.
"We expect to win the PSUAC and have our highest finishes at the USCAA meets on both sides of the coin," he said. "For the women, Nicole Walker (West Mifflin, PA/West Wifflin HS) and (Point Park transfer) Kelsey Wilkins (Morgantown, WV/Central Valley HS) should have a banner year, with (sophomores) Kalp and Pindro close behind. On the men's side, Mitch and Drew will lead with help from PJ, Alex and Joe. We want to keep healthy, and a goal is to have everyone follow their training plan so we can follow the racing plan."
The season, which opens September 3 against Westmoreland County Community College, will be successful, according to Carei, "if COVID doesn't interfere. We are ready."
Fayette hosts an invitational on September 25.
Carei added that the team is always looking for runners from the student body and to call him if interested in being a part of the team. He can be reached at (724) 437-3287.
For more on the cross-country team, go to https://www.psfathletics.com/sports/xc/index or follow us on Instagram @fayetteathletics.
Written by Bill Hughes