Youth Cross Country Challenges Winners Announced!

11/20/15

CCC

PITTSBURGH – The 2015 Youth Cross Country Challenge came to a close at the 2015 TRA Cross Country Championships on Sunday, November 8th. Athletes participated in the inaugural cross country series running 6 meets with varying degrees of difficulty, competition and weather conditions. The competition was designed to increase interest in the sport and highlight the physical and competitive benefits of distance running. Athletes and clubs participated and earned points towards a final series score. Scoring rules and summary can be found here.

Increasing participation in the youth cross country program was a major goal of the Association for 2015. The organization spent a significant amount of time and resources promoting the Challenge advertising in the spring with WPIAL and later in the fall with PIAA. The Association also created a series of promotional tools for use and download by association members and clubs.

A total of 182 athletes and 14 clubs participated in the Challenge making the 2015 youth cross country season the most successful in years. Each of the 5 developmental meets saw record participation numbers with only the first competition reaching less than 75 participants. A total of 28 athletes participated in all 5 meets. By comparison, the average developmental meet participation number is just under 50 athletes dating back to the 2012 season.

After weeks of competing, the 2015 Youth Cross Country Challenge Individual Age Group Champions are:

Name Club Name Age Group Total Points
Lenna  Birchard Penn Hills Eagles 8 & Under Girls 1376
Yeshua Musoba Penn Hills Eagles 8 & Under Boys 1416
Gabrielle Williams Penn Hills Eagles 9-10 Girls 1400
Timothy  Barrett Unattached 9-10 Boys 1398
Corinn Brewer Valley Speedsters 11-12 Girls 1385
Jacques Moye Jr Penn Hills Eagles 11-12 Boys 1450
Grace Henderson Valley Speedsters 13-14 Girl 892
Kasey Turner Pacer Track Club 13-14 Boys 1231
Taylor Tomman Penn Hills Eagles 15-16 Girls 1270
Mason Meddings Pacer Track Club 15-16 Boys 610
Michelle Pompa Mountain Top 17-18 Women 600
Robert Malcolm AK Track & Field 17-18 Men 600

Complete Individual Standings

Top 3 Teams:

Place Club Name Total Points
1 Penn Hills Eagles 4290
2 Pacer Track Club 3720
3 Get Fit Families 2845

Complete Team Standings

Each of the age group winners will receive a championship t-shirt, medal and water bottle. Top 3 teams will receive water bottles for all participating athletes and USATF Member coaches affiliated with their team. A breakdown on prizes can be found here:

Notable Performances

TRA would like to congratulate all the Individual Age Group Championships, Team Award winners and Challenge participants. A special thank you to all the coaches, club administrators and officials who believed in the program and played an integral role in making the 2015 youth cross country season a success!

Prizes will be shipped beginning next week and continue throughout the first week of December.