Shanahan Runners Set Pace in Ches-Monts

Shanahan runners set pace at first Ches-Mont National cross country meet" by Bruce Adams, Daily Local News, September 14, 2023

Coatesville >> The Bishop Shanahan cross country team set the pace at the Ches-Mont National Division Meet Wednesday on the two-mile track at North Brandywine Middle School. Eagles runners were the first to fly across the finish line in both the boys’ varsity race and the girls’ varsity race.

Shanahan senior Meghan Willis was first in the girls’ varsity run (13:23.29), followed by senior teammate Penelope Loeper (13:27.67).

Willis, who finished third at the PIAA District 1 AA cross country meet last fall, was coming into Wednesday’s meet off a fourth-place finish in the senior girls’ race at the Unionville 2-Mile Bash.

“This is the first time I’ve run this (North Brandywine) course; I like it a lot — it’s flat, but there’s a little hill in it,” said Willis. “I was looking to get a good workout in today  — it was hot — and I got it.”

Loeper, who placed fourth last year at Districts, said, “I was trying to hit the pace I was given (today), I ran maybe a little faster.”

Shanahan girls cross country coach Mark Schmidt said, “I thought our girls did well today; the idea was to run under control early in the season – and they had only three days’ rest since the Unionvile race. They executed exactly as we planned and ran strongly at the end.”