After running a pair of preseason invitationals, Blue Mountain’s boys’ cross country team realized something: Hey, we can be pretty good.
If they dedicated themselves — dedicated themselves to training harder, to competing harder, to really believing they could do it.
That extra effort paid off huge for the Eagles on Wednesday afternoon as they swept Jim Thorpe 27-29 and Pottsville 15-50 in a Schuylkill League Division I tri-meet at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The league loss was the first for Jim Thorpe (5-1, 1-1 D-I) since falling to Pottsville on Sept. 5, 2012. The Olympians are the two-time defending Schuylkill League boys’ champions.
“About two weeks ago, they made a decision that they were going to be a good cross country team,’’ Blue Mountain coach Brian Rauenzahn said. “... The workouts at practice have been excellent.
“Good workouts translate into good meet times,’’ he added. “That’s what I’m pleased with, their work ethic right now.’’
What made Blue Mountain’s performance even more impressive was that the Eagles accomplished it while watching Jim Thorpe’s Dylan Bucior win the race and set a course record.
Bucior clocked a time of 17:00, knocking nine seconds off the mark of 17:09 established by former Jim Thorpe great Johnathan Condly.
“I’m right where I want to be. I’m on track,’’ Bucior said. “I’m working hard at practice with my team. We’re all pushing each other.
“Every race I’m trying to improve, and I do see improvement,’’ he added. “My times are going down. ... I feel better every single week.’’
After Bucior, the Eagles (4-1, 2-0 D-I) and Olympians traded places back and forth. At four runners apiece, the teams were tied 18-18. Then Blue Mountain’s Coltin Albitz finished ninth and Mac O’Donnell placed 10th to clinch Blue Mountain’s victory.
Derek Mosteller led the Eagles with a second-place finish in 18:06. Thomas Levkulic took third in 18:38, C.J. Menuchak (19:22) placed sixth and Jake Kluge (19:30) finished seventh.
Ben Saxon (19:02) and Chris Valdez (19:08) finished 4-5 overall for Jim Thorpe.
Pottsville’s top runner was Zach Haslam, who placed 13th in 20:45.
Girls’ results
Blue Mountain edges
Olympians, Tide
Jim Thorpe took a hard run at the Eagles’ long winning streak, but Blue Mountain held on for a 27-28 victory.
Blue Mountain completed the sweep by defeating Pottsville 18-41. The Olympians downed the Tide 21-31.
Delana Nalesnik got Jim Thorpe (5-1, 1-1 D-I) started right by winning the race in 20:24.
Blue Mountain, though, used its trademark depth to pull out the victory. The Eagles (5-0, 2-0 D-I) placed five in the top 10 and seven in the top 15 of the tri-meet.
Caroline Rickard (20:53) placed second and Courtney Dukmen (21:45) took third to lead Blue Mountain.
With the wins, two-time defending league champion Blue Mountain improved to 26-0 overall, 15-0 in Division I meets since the start of the 2013 season.
“It’s very important. We’re really stressing (our grouping) this year because Sarah (Brooks graduated),’’ Rickard said. “We’re really working on that grouping this year. We still have a ways to go, but we’re really getting there.
“Each week, our pack keeps getting closer and closer together,’’ she added. “It’s not what you do now, it’s what you do at the end of the season.’’
Meet results
Wednesday at Pottsville
3.1 miles
BOYS
Blue Mountain 27, Jim Thorpe 29
Jim Thorpe 15, Pottsville 50
Blue Mountain 15, Pottsville 50
1. Bucior (JT) 17:00*, 2. Mosteller (BM) 18:06, 3. Levkulic (BM) 18:38, 4. Saxon (JT) 19:02, 5. Valdez (JT) 19:08, 6. Menuchak (BM) 19:22, 7. Kluge (BM) 19:30, 8. Gentile (JT) 19:55, 9. Albitz (BM) 20:12, 10. O’Donnell (BM) 20:15, 11. Hydro (JT) 20:18, 12. Carr (BM) 20:28, 13. Haslam (P) 20:45, 14. Montemuro (JT) 20:51, 15. Oswald (BM) 21:11
GIRLS
Blue Mountain 27, Jim Thorpe 28
Jim Thorpe 21, Pottsville 31
Blue Mountain 18, Pottsville 41
1. Nalesnik (JT) 20:24, 2. Rickard (BM) 20:53, 3. Dukmen (BM) 21:45, 4. K. Kovac (JT) 22:27, 5. Br. Nagle (P) 22:28, 6. Henninger (BM) 22:48, 7. P. Kovac (JT) 23:39, 8. Gahman (JT) 23:41, 9. Thompson (BM) 23:43, 10. Dolbin (BM) 24:39, 11. Kiapes (P) 24:41, 12. Loughlin (BM) 24:46, 13. McMullin (P) 24:53, 14. Pogash (P) 24:59, 15. Albitz (BM) 25:03
*Course record