The Bradford Owls’ cross country team is looking for their
eighth straight District 9 AAA championship in 2006.ð

They will be led by five senior lettermen.ð

“We lost three of our top seven from last year, but no one is
going to feel sorry for us because we return five of the top six
returning runners in the AAA race,” said Bradford High coach Tom
Tessena. “Jared Feura is the defending individual champion. We have
only had three individuals win districts since I started coaching
in 1969 and Jared has a chance to be a two-time winner.

“Feura is the team leader and has run the most miles this
summer. Fuera has already run in the state meet three times so he
has a wealth of experience,” Tessena continued. “Mike Foerstner is
a three-year letterwinner and has made states all three years as
well. Foerstner placed seventh last year, but only Feura returns
from the higher place winners. Foerstner is in pretty good shape
and has been working hard to make this year his best ever.ð

“Colton Langianese placed eighth behind Foerstner and has looked
very good this preseason. Langianese has been running second in
practice, and he is coming off an outstanding track season. He has
always given all he had in meets. Now he is working very hard in
practice as well, and he can see that is what he needs to do to
meet his running goals.ð

“If Langianese can stay close to Feura, the Owls should have as
good or better of a 1-2 punch as they had last year with Feura and
Steve Kirkland. Langianese knows his job is to take Kirkland’s
place and it looks like he can handle it.”ð

Shroy Mukerjee has also qualified for the PIAA championships the
last three years and had a tremendous track season last year.
Mukerjee is the next returning finisher from last year and has also
set some high goals for this year. He has the best speed of anyone
with a 50.4 in the 400 meters and a 1:56.8 split in the 800 meters
last spring.ð

“He just needs to get in a lot of miles and he will have the
base he needs to be good this year,” the coach said.

The last senior, Rich Bartlebaugh, has also made the PIAA
championships two years and has 1:58 speed in the 800 meters.

“Bartlebaugh is a big strong guy who is just starting to get in
real good shape. He should be a force to be reckoned with this
fall. Bartlebaugh was Bradford’s eighth man last year, but he won
the JV race at districts and his time is the sixth fastest
returning from last year, with only a St. Marys runner and his four
teammates turning faster times.ð

These five seniors have the ability to do something at the state
meet this year,” said Tessena. “We finished 14th last year and were
short of our goal to be in the top 10. Hopefully, that is where we
can finish this year.

“We have a small squad with only two sophomores and five
freshmen but fortunately all these guys are runners. Patrick
Perschke finished third in the JV race at districts and John
Karrasch was fourth. They both ran faster than the fifth runner of
the other District 9 AAA teams so they really give us some good
depth.

“They are both working hard but need to get in a lot more miles.
I have told these guys they really have to work hard because the
younger guys will look to them for leadership next year,” explained
Tessena. “Both of these guys are working to be in the top eight and
make that trip to states with the varsity. They will probably run a
lot of JV races this year and that will help them gain the
experience they need.”

The freshmen group is very strong.

“These guys never lost a dual meet and won 10 or 11
invitationals the last two years,” the coach said. “They all have a
lot of experience but it is a big step moving up to the varsity
level. Matthew and Michael White never lost a race last year to
anyone and they are really in good shape. They really ran a lot of
miles this summer and they are tough competitors. They are
currently running third and fourth on the varsity based on our two
time trials. A couple of the older guys may beat them but they
won’t get pushed out of the top seven for sure. Before it is all
over they could be something pretty special.”

The other freshmen are solid as well. Adam Barnes isn’t too far
behind the other varsity runners and also has set his sights on a
trip to states.

“It really helps when you get a tradition established that your
team expects to advance to states most years and they know that
there is a big price to pay in terms of hard work to accomplish
it,” Tessena said. “Evan Feura and Cory Little are also doing a
fine job.ð

“Evan is definitely our most improved guy from last year and he
is really working hard.ð

“Corey has a lot of ability and is a little behind in his
conditioning, but he seems to be getting stronger every day. This
group of freshmen could even be better than our five seniors if
they stick together the next four years.

“Obviously we have talent but the question of how far we can go
will remain to be seen,” Tessena commented. “The group has a great
attitude and they are very coachable so we should have a good
year.”

The Owls will run home meets at the George G. Blaisdell
Elementary School.

“We have been working hard all summer to make this course one of
the best in the District,” said Tessena.

Home meets will begin with the middle school race at 4:15
p.m.

The girls’ varsity will follow about 4:40 with the boys’ race
the last one of the day. Spectators and parents are asked to not
arrive before 4 p.m. as the elementary school is still in session
and there is a lot of bus traffic between 3:30 and 4 p.m. Visiting
teams are also asked to adjust their arrival times to 3:30 if at
all possible.