Seneca Valley freshman Sauer broke out of No.3-4 spot to run at state cross country meet
Seneca Valley freshman Lauren Sauer had run consistently at the No.3-No.4 spot in the Raiders’ varsity squad this past season. But she started to post marked improvements as 2012 came to a close.
Head coach Jim Nagle and the rest of the coaching staff noticed. Nagle even considered telling Sauer that she had the potential to make great things happen at the October 25 WPIAL championship meet. Nagle didn’t want to put any pressure on Sauer, though. So, he didn’t say anything.
“I’m so glad you didn’t,” had been Sauer’s words to Nagle in response to learning of his thoughts after she qualified to run at Hershey yesterday.
Sauer’s time at Cooper’s Lake was 20:45, and she seized WPIAL Class AAA’s last individual qualifying berth.
Seneca Valley’s cross country team also sent senior Ben Nickel on a return trip to Hershey. Nickel had qualified for states as the WPIAL Class AAA 14th individual qualifier. His time was 17:01. Both Nickel and Nagle were pleased at the fact that he’d qualified, even with the new cutoff at fifteen individuals.
Interestingly, Nickel had come to Seneca Valley’s cross country team in 2011 after choosing to focus on running instead of his previous sport of baseball. According to Nagle, Nickel does not intend to return to baseball this spring.
Complete results from the PIAA meet for Sauer, Nickel, and all other qualifying teams/runners can be found at runhigh.com
Head coach Jim Nagle and the rest of the coaching staff noticed. Nagle even considered telling Sauer that she had the potential to make great things happen at the October 25 WPIAL championship meet. Nagle didn’t want to put any pressure on Sauer, though. So, he didn’t say anything.
“I’m so glad you didn’t,” had been Sauer’s words to Nagle in response to learning of his thoughts after she qualified to run at Hershey yesterday.
Sauer’s time at Cooper’s Lake was 20:45, and she seized WPIAL Class AAA’s last individual qualifying berth.
Seneca Valley’s cross country team also sent senior Ben Nickel on a return trip to Hershey. Nickel had qualified for states as the WPIAL Class AAA 14th individual qualifier. His time was 17:01. Both Nickel and Nagle were pleased at the fact that he’d qualified, even with the new cutoff at fifteen individuals.
Interestingly, Nickel had come to Seneca Valley’s cross country team in 2011 after choosing to focus on running instead of his previous sport of baseball. According to Nagle, Nickel does not intend to return to baseball this spring.
Complete results from the PIAA meet for Sauer, Nickel, and all other qualifying teams/runners can be found at runhigh.com
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