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By Andy Sandrik, Sentinel Reporter, September 28, 2008

Last updated: Sunday, September 28, 2008 9:27 AM EDT

The course conditions at Saturday morning’s Carlisle Cross Country Invitational were cold, soggy and a little bit slippery — that’s exactly the way Kyle Hurston likes his home course.

Hurston, of Carlisle, was the highlight of Saturday’s meet, which featured over 90 schools from five states with four varsity races and over 2,500 runners. Hurston raced in the Reebok Challenge race, the elite varsity race, and came away with a first-place finish in 15:59.

North Allegheny won the Reebok Challenge boys’ team title. Loudoun County won the boys’ Champion race team title and Zachary Greth of Exeter took first in the event, finishing in 16:36.

In girls’ action, Thomas Jefferson claimed first place as a team in the Reebok Challenge and York Suburban took first in the Champions race. Aisling Cuffe, of Cornwall, won the Challenge race with a time of 18:05. Forest Hills’ Anne Leah Wirfel won the Champions race in 18:41.

Hurston described his victory as the “most fun” of his career.

“This is my favorite win so far in my running career, period,” Hurston said. “This is the most fun win I’ve ever had because it wasn’t expected.”

In a race featuring top-notch runners like Brad Miles (North Penn), Joe Beveridge (Bishop McDevitt), Mike Pierce (Holy Ghost) and Mike Palmisano (Upper Dublin), the Vegas odds on Hurston coming away with a victory probably would not have been great.

“I had it in my head today that I wanted to show that I was one of the top guys in the state,” Hurston said. “I tried to stay with the top guys and run away from them.”

Hurston’s strategy worked. Two miles into the race, Hurston held the lead and never let go, finishing the race three seconds ahead of second-place Miles.

“The weather made the race much slower,” Hurston said. “The weather made it not a test of speed anymore, rather a test of effort. I prefer running in the slop — people forget how much fun that can be.”

Thanks to the efforts of Hurston and teammates John Pope (sixth, 16:20) and Davey Dennison (seventh, 16:23), the Thundering Herd was able to come away with a fifth-place team finish.

“This is pre-states,” Hurston said. “This is the biggest meet before states. I was planning to win this race, but whenever you’re the first person to cross the finish line, you’re always surprised.”

Carlisle finished just behind Cumberland Valley, which took third place and got strong efforts from Mark Fuller (27th, 16:44), Ryan Hartzel (34th, 16:50.28), Ken Murphy (35th, 16:50.51) and Mike Nemeth (42nd, 16:55).

Other local runners to finish in the top 50 of the boys Reebok Challenge race were Cedar Cliff’s Zach Johnston (11th, 16:28), Cedar Cliff’s Vinnie Depalma (31st, 16:48), Cedar Cliff’s Mike Garraway (32nd, 16:49) and East Pennsboro’s Harry Latchford (36th, 16:51).

Among the top 50 runners in the boys Champions race were Big Spring’s Sam Brandt (29th, 17:43), Northern’s Jon Foster (39th, 17:57), East Pennsboro’s Brandon Smith (18:03) and Northern’s Ben Meck (48th, 18:07).

Cumberland Valley took second place in the Reebok Challenge girls’ race and was led by seventh-place finisher Leigha Anderson, who finished the race in 19:02.

“States and the Paul Short meet are the only things that compare to this race,” Anderson said. “It’s pretty intimidating with all of the big schools here.”

Including Anderson, the Eagles placed four of their runners in the top 50 — Darcy McKinley-Lester (15th, 19:29), Cassie Pecht (16th, 19:30) and Krista Nemeth (48th, 20:18).

Other top local finishers in the Reebok Challenge race included Carlisle’s Colleen Smith (24th, 19:39), Shippensburg’s Reynah Spence (27th, 19:46), Mechanicsburg’s Sarah Sulon (28th, 19:47), Cedar Cliff’s Abby Michaelian (30th, 19:53), Northern’s Taryn Weaver (32nd, 20:00), Northern’s Abby Wong (38th, 20:07) and Cedar Cliff’s Emily Barno (40th, 20:11).

Top female runners in the Champions race were Red Land’s Emily Luvison (21st, 20:35.64) and Trinity’s Kerry Campbell (28th, 21:00).

Shippensburg cross country coach Michael O’Conner said that Saturday’s Invitational has stronger competition than any other local meet.

“The competition today is definitely better than what we’ll see at districts,” O’Conner said. “There is no comparable meet in the area, except for maybe the postseason. That’s why we entered this Invitational, to prepare for the postseason.”