By CHRIS MANNINGValley Sports Report
NEWVILLE, Pa. — Athens' Graham Wanck wasn't able to start racing until a month ago, but that didn't stop the Wildcat senior from getting that elusive state medal here Saturday at the PIAA, Class AA Boys Cross-country Championships at Big Spring High School.
"It feels great," Wanck said. "The race went better than I could have hoped, and I think I just ran it really smart. It is a great way to end a short season."
Wanck placed 13th overall in a time of 16:22 to get on the podium, methodically moving up throughout the race.
He was 21st at the mile, then 17th at the halfway point before getting to 14th at the 2-mile.
"I think most of my fitness at this point is just pretty natural, but it was tough," said Wanck. "Every hill was grinding, but we just worked up it, and just found the next downhill, and just found more heads to catch and keep moving on."
His goal was to stay close to the medals.
"I'm right on the mark," Wanck said about a mile in. "I can just sit here, or keep moving up - just feel it out. I just kept moving up after that."
Wanck was the highest finishing District IV runner, and one of five that medaled. Fellow NTL runners James Knefley and Emmett Klees also made the podium.
"I definitely couldn't have told you that that was going to happen going into this race," he said. "I think I just gave it everything I had on my last senior race."
In the girls AA race, Athens junior Alissa Vough finished 58th in a time of 20:27.
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IN PHOTO 1: Athens senior Graham Wanck. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens junior Alissa Vough. ... PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING.
