Gateway runners hope to gain experience

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, September 10, 2017 | 11:00 PM

Not too often are results meaningless to a coach, but for Tom LaBuff, that is exactly the case for the 2017 Gateway cross country teams.

The Gators entered the season with limited experience, and for some of the athletes, no experience in the sport.

“We are very, very young,” LaBuff said. “We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores.”

How young the Gators are was evident when they hosted the their season-opening invitational Sept. 2.

The boys and girls teams finished 11th out of a field of 12.

“We are just looking for improvement all season long,” LaBuff said. “They have a good work ethic and are working hard.”

For the girls, lone senior Maria Subotich led the way, placing 40th with a time of 25 minutes and 10 seconds. More importantly, she exemplified leadership for the younger girls on the team.

“Maria Subotich has really taken on a leadership role for the younger girls on the team,” LaBuff said. “We would like her to be around 21 minutes. Her work ethic is fantastic. She is confident, more than anything.”

Trailing her in the event was one of the young guns for the Gators, Cierra LaSpada. LaSpada finished the race in a time of 25:53.

The same goes for the boys in terms of inexperience. While some of them have competed in track and field, the art of cross country is one they are picking up for the first time.

“They are doing a good job,” LaBuff said. “It is going to be a learning curve for all of them this season. The only thing I am looking for is improvement all season long, and that is what they have been doing.”

In the Gateway Invitational, Riley Pritchard was the top individual finisher for the Gators, crossing the line at 21:05.2. His time was 49th overall.

The Gators were scheduled to be back in action Wednesday, when they faced Latrobe, Kiski and Plum at Plum's Larry Mills Park.

“I am anxious to see them get back out there,” LaBuff said. “I enjoy watching them run and improve each week.”

Drew Karpen is a freelance writer.

Tags: Gateway