Cross Country started off the 2019 Pine Grove Homecoming with an early start at 9 a.m. Mel Love, Pine Grove’s top 5 finisher in the female race says, “ I thought where I finished was good, but all I wanted to do was beat the one Pottsville girl and I did.” The course is pretty rigorous because of the unusual terrain and the size of the hills throughout the entirety of the course. The course is approximately 3.1 miles long. Mel Love was Pine Grove’s only female runner and she stayed consistent throughout the whole race. Mel was in 5th place up until the 2.5 mile marker, that’s when she pulled ahead and took 4th place. 

Travis Anderson, Pine Grove’s only top 5 male finisher placed 2nd in the male race. When the male race first started Travis Anderson was in 6th place, but by the .5 mile marker he moved up to 2nd. Travis stayed and finished in 2nd for the rest of the race. Anderson says, “ I know the course very well and where I finished I thought was good.” Ryan Sarge competed in his first race of the cross country season. Ryan Sarge started far back but made a move and finished the race in 7th place. Sarge says, “ for just coming back I felt I ran a good time.” Owen Wissinger also competed for the first time this season. Owen Wissinger places 56th out of 90 male racers. 

The female race was very competitive and was close throughout the whole race. Mel Love and the other top four finishers were very close when it came to the finish. Mel Love finished with a time of 20 minutes and 42 seconds. There was a pretty decent gap towards the finish of the male race. Travis finished with a time of 17 minutes and 11 seconds. Ryan Sarge the next highest finisher for Pine Grove finished with a time of 18 minutes and 16 seconds. Despite the good times, they did not get top 3 in points as a team.