A pair of firsts at cross country meet for C-M
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Peters TownshipþÄôs Jen Massucci leads the pack during the start of the County Coaches Cross Country Meet at Mingo Park on Monday, Oct. 17, 2016.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Jonas Wudkwych from Canon McMillan High School won first place with the time of 17:009.1 at the County Coaches Cross Country Meet at Mingo Park on Monday, Oct. 17, 2016.
Canon-McMillan’s Margaret Veres finished with a time of 20:37.0 Monday to win the Washington County Coaches Cross Country Meet at Mingo Park.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Steve Day from Trinty High School collapses after crossing the finish line with the time of 17:50.8 at the County Coaches Cross Country Meet at Mingo Park on Monday, Oct. 17, 2016.
Ringgold’s Seth Marthin lead the pack Monday at the start of the Washington County Coaches Cross Country Meet at Mingo Park.
MONONGAHELA – Jonas Wudkwych is a unique competitor in cross country.
The senior from Canon-McMillan has the strength in his legs for hills, the speed for the flats and compassion for his competitors.
The latter part is what makes him unique.
After crossing the finish line in 17:09.1 for first place in the Washington County Coaches Cross Country Meet at Mingo Park Monday afternoon, Wudkwych turned back to congratulate his opponents.
Not just the ones who finished second and third but nearly every other runner in the field. He helped runners back to their feet who collapsed at the finish line from exhaustion on this warm, muggy day and offered words of encouragement until finally being pulled away for an interview.
“Usually, at the end of a race, no matter how well I do, I like to turn around and help up my competitors,” said Wudkwych.
“Even if I didn’t do so well, I like to shake everyone’s hands.”
Wudkwych said he puts about 40 miles per week in summer workouts to prepare for the season.
“A lot of miles are put in to reach the point where we are all at,” said Wudkwych, a state qualifier last season. “All the competitors respect each other because we all knew how much hard work goes into this.”
Wudkwych’s brother, Josiah, finished second 10.8 seconds behind at 17:19.9 and Ben Heim of Washington was third in 17:24.7. Matthew Mansfield of Canon-McMillan took fourth place in 17:30.5, despite running with a cast on his left arm after an earlier fall in a race, and Jonah de Cortie of Canon-McMillan was fifth in 17:35.4.
Margaret Veres of Canon-McMillan won the girls event, crossing in 20:37.0. Sydney Wehn of Peters Township was 12 seconds back and Stephanie Keelon (21:16.7) of Canon-McMillan was third. Jen Massucci (21:47.5) of Peters Township and Morgan Grudi (21:53.8) rounded out the top five.
Canon-McMillan won the boys Class AAA team title and Ringgold emerged with the Double-A trophy. Ringgold also won the girls Class AA team trophy and Canon-McMillan earned it in Class AAA.
Jonas Wudkwych finished higher this year with a slower time than last year’s race. He ran a 16:52.8 but finished fourth, behind champion Nick Wolk of Peters Township, Cody DiVecchio of Burgettstown and Heim.
“My little brother and I put a lot of miles in together,” Jonas Wudkwych said.
Wudkwych’s brother, Josiah, only a freshman, stuck close to Jonas throughout yesterday’s race on a course softened by rain. Heim was second midway through but Josiah passed him and crossed with about five seconds to spare.
“We’re very competitive,” said Josiah Wudkwych. “I’ve beat him once, at the Mingo Classic. I’ve been running since seventh grade. I did the summer workouts with him. I ran between 40 and 60 miles a week. This is definitely a hard race with all the competitors.”
Veres improved 13 places from last year’s race by shaving nearly 39 seconds from her time. Wehn remained close throughout, making it a two-person race. But Veres finished strong and Wehn settled for second place, one spot higher than in last season’s run.
“This year, I really focused on my summer mileages,” said Veres, who began running in the seventh grade. “I did more workouts than I normally would have. Our coaches have a good conditioning program in the summer and that helps.”
While the Mingo course is known for it’s steep hills, Veres finds another part of the course challenging.
“I’ve run this many times.” Veres said. “I think a lot of people would say the back hill is a killer, but honestly, the last hill is a baby hill and it’s a killer for me.”
Veres was an eighth-place finisher in last week’s Mingo Classic on the same course.
Wehn was 1:11 off her best time on this course and felt the muddy conditions on some parts slowed the runners.
“It was not the best conditions but it was that way for everybody, so it’s nothing to worry about,” said Wehn, a senior, whose best time was 19:48. “I was shooting for under 20:00 but it was a little muddy out there.”