Oct 25, 2012 3 min read

SLIPPERY ROCK – For the past two seasons, the weather at the WPIAL Cross Country Championships was dreadful. A biting wind with rain and hail turned the 3.1-mile course at Cooper’s Lake into a bog last year, making for a miserable afternoon for runners. The previous year wasn’t much better, with wind and rain hampering traction and affecting times and results. So the 80-degree temperatures, mixed with clear skies, little wind and low humidity should have been a welcome sight for the runners competing in Thursday’s finals. Instead, it was devastating. Heat exhaustion sent more than a dozen runners to local hospitals, some unconscious, and dozens more required treatment after their races. Some returned after treatment and there were no reports of serious conditions by meet’s end. At one point, the meet had to be delayed for 15 minutes because there were no ambulances on site. All were either taking runners out or making their way back to Cooper’s Lake. “It was really scorching hot,” said D’Heaven Kelley of Washington, one of three local runners to advance to the PIAA Championships next weekend in Hershey. Besides Kelley, who was 12th in Class A with a time of 17:33, Burgettstown’s Marco Bennett finished 14th in Class A with a time of 17:33-plus. South Fayette’s Frank Morelli finished 20th at 17:52 in Class AA. One of the more heart-wrenching heat-related stories came in Class A, where Bennett’s cousin, Luke, was running near Marco but collapsed about 70 yards from the finish line. He got to his feet, fell, got up and fell again. Finally, fans along the sides reached out to aid him and an ambulance crew was called in. “He was right on my side, with a quarter mile to go,” Marco Bennett said. “The heat just got to him.” Burgettstown finished fourth as a team, one spot out of qualifying for the state tournament. “This was a big difference from last year, when it was hailing,” Bennett said. “Now, running in 80 degrees … it’s a lot more mental.” Kelley turned in a 17:33 for his finish, 41 seconds slower than his best time but still impressive for a first-year runner. “My goal time is 16:30, said Kelley, a junior. “I’m hoping to run that at states.” Morelli, a junior, credited his finish to being well hydrated. “I’m normally the No. 4 or 5 guy,” Morelli said. “But I run better in the heat. There were a lot of good runners affected by it.” No local female runner qualified for the state event, including Kirsten McMichael of Ringgold, who took 17th place in the WPIAL event as a freshman last season to earn a spot in Hershey. McMichael finished 47th in yesterday’s meet. “I just don’t do well in the heat, especially today, “McMichael said. “It was such a shock. We had cool weather all season. I felt it right away. I think my body was in shock.” The top local Class A female was Erin Allison of Fort Cherry, who was 39th. In Class AA, it was South Fayette’s Morgan Gramigliano, who was 31st, and in Class AAA, it was Kylie Knavish of Peters Township, who was 32. Dan Buker of Canon-McMillan was the top area Class AAA boys runner, taking 49th.