Dalton Hengst gets it right at Paul Short Run

By Brian Towey for DyeStat

Bethlehem, Pa. -- Twice before, junior Dalton Hengst (McDonogh School, Owings Mills, Md.) had tried but failed to win the formidable Paul Short Run, placing seventh as a sophomore and fourth as a junior. Friday in the boys Brown Race at Lehigh University, the senior made sure he got it right.

Using a late burst over the final mile, Hengst overtook a strong field, including Rusty Kudych of Neshaminy PA to win in 14:57. It was his first time under 15 minutes on a 5,000-meter course.

"I kind of wanted to stay relaxed in the first two miles, throw in a couple of surges to break it up," Hengst said.

Hengst rode with a lead pack of four through 1.5. miles, as he, Kudych, Josh Hoey (Bishop Shanahan, Downingtown, Pa.) and Liam Conway (Owen J. Roberts, Pottstown, Pa.) separated themselves from the 375 other runners in the race (among 42 teams).

"There was a pack of four of us," Kudych said. "We were all switching off the lead, but mostly Dalton. About a mile to go Dalton made a big push and me and another kid fell about 15-20 meters back."

Coming off of the final turn, Hengst emerged with Kudych close behind. Hengst succeeded in holding him off. Kudych was second (15:01), followed by Conway (15:08) and Hoey (15:16).

"The second mile I really started going, which was enough to break them," Hengst said.

Spring-Ford PA was first with 176 points, followed by Delaware's Salesianum with 179 points. Downingtown West PA was third with 216.

In the girls Brown Race, Katie Dammer of Abington Heights (Clarks Summit PA) easily held off Emily Bonaventure (Souderton Area PA)and Jamie Zamrin (Cocalico PA), winning in 17:50.

"I'd never run in this race before so I was really excited about it," said Dammer, who broke away after the two-mile mark. "Last year I had this bad habit of going out way in front. Today I wanted to make sure someone was in front of me."

Bonaventure finished second in 18:03, Zamrin third and Roshni Singh (Bay Shore NY) fourth.

Centerville OH won the team championship with 61 points, led by Grace Kilroy (No. 11, 18:32) and Emma Bucher (No. 12, 18:36). Morgantown WV was second with 148 points, led by the seventh-place finish of Samantha Hatcher (18:19). Owen J. Roberts PA was third with 148 points.

Competitors received picturesque conditions in wooded eastern Pennsylania, with temperatures around 70. The relatively flat course made for some fast times.

"It's a great meet to come to because of the competition," said lsabell Sagar of Loyalstock Township, near Williamsburg, Pa, who finished eighth in the girls Brown Race. "You can really feel the adrenaline on the course around the second mile."

Junior Jack Miller of Jenkintown PA won the boys White Race in 15:48.

"Around the second mile, I fell back (and) I was in third," Miller said. "The last mile, it was all in my head. I pushed past it and took it from there."

Monroe-Woodbury (Central Valley, N.Y.) won the team title with 107 points.

Makenna Krebs of Central Dauphin East (Pa.) won the White Race in 18:41.

Cornwall NY won the team title with 53 points.