Marmol finds inspiration to win Washington County Cross County Meet
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Peters Township’s Zachary Marmol finished first in the boys varsity race with a time of 16:57:00
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Peter’s Township’s Jennifer Massucci crosses the finish line with a time of 20:54:82 to win the girls varsity race
Varsity girls runners step off the line as they start in the Washington County Cross Country Coaches’ Meet at Mingo Creek County Park
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Runners make their way along the course at Mingo Creek County Park.
Runners near the start of the boys varsity race of the Washington County Coaches Meet at Mingo Creek County Park
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Runners make their way uphill during the first half of the boys race at the Washington County Cross Country meet.
MONONGAHELA – Zach Marmol is not only a talented runner but also has an inspirational leader.
Himself.
As the junior from Peters Township High School was crossing the finish line to repeat as champion in the Washington County Coaches Cross Country Meet, he could be heard talking to himself.
“I was just giving myself some inspiration,” he said. “I knew I worked really hard this offseason and I knew it was big for me to come here and race a healthy race.”
Marmol crossed the finish line of the 3.1-mile course at Mingo Park on a dreary, rainy Monday afternoon with a time of 16:57.00 to win the boys race.
Jennifer Massucci, a senior, made it a Peters Township sweep by capturing first place in the girls meet, crossing in 20:54.82.
Marmol makes inspiration a priority in his running. At last week’s Mingo Classic, also held at Mingo Park, Marmol had the words, “Trust The Process,” printed on his back with body paint. He finished fourth overall.
“That’s my favorite thing to say,” he said. “That’s what I think in my head every time I go up the hills and every time I’m in my final sprint. I just love that saying. It’s everything I embody in my running. Trust the process.”
Before Marmol could win, he had to shake Luke Pajak from his rear view mirror, and that was a challenging task. Pajak, a sophomore from Ringgold, hung with Marmol for about two-thirds of the course before Marmol used a strong kick to pull away over the final 300 yards.
“I ran a two-second PR, so that was fine,” said Pajak. “He had a pretty good kick. He ran states last year and we’re hoping to get to states this year.”
Pajak also ran in the Mingo Classic and finished eighth, four slots and 10 seconds behind Marmol. This time, the difference was 26 seconds after crossing in 17:22.86.
“I wish the course was a bit dryer,” Pajak said. “That’s why my time slowed down a bit. It was pretty wild out there. On one section, you almost had to stop to prevent from slipping. That’s how bad it was.”
Pajak benefits from running on this layout because Ringgold uses Mingo Park as its home course.
“My strategy was to get a PR if I wanted to stay with (Marmol). I’m proud finishing second. I was going for top three so second works.”
After finishing second in this event last year, a determined Massucci was unstoppable. She ran away from the field, crossing in 20:54.82, nearly 38 seconds better than teammate Samantha Dusch, a senior.
“In the beginning, I was just out with everyone else,” she said. “When we hit the woods, I started picking it up and tried to create some distance because I don’t have a strong finish like some of these runners.”
Massucci is pulling back her premeet workouts as the WPIAL finals at California University approach next week.
“The (WPIAL course) is a lot like this one, pretty flat,” she said. “There is one big hill you have to overcome. Then you have to worry about the finish.”
Canon-McMillan won the boys Class AAA team title, Ringgold was the top Double-A team and Chartiers-Houston the highest Class A team.
Peters Township topped the girls Class AAA teams, Ringgold was first in Double-A and Burgettstown led the Class A ranks.