Kosek Sisters Post Stellar Performances At McQuaid Invite

By: Ed Weaver  /  September 29, 2024  /  Photo: Eric Kosek

Sisters Kaci Kosek and Lauren Kosek shined Saturday at the prestigious McQuaid Invite in Rochester, NY, both setting new career PRs in their respective races.

"McQuaid is traditionally are race that you show up to expecting tough competition and if you are trained well, a big PR," head coach Eric Kosek said. "Wellsboro MS and HS boys and girls XC teams had a day there as most of the team ran their fastest times yet!"

Kaci Kosek won the Junior High Small School girls race, being the only runner to break the 10-minute mark on the 1.6 mile course. Kaci ran a time of 9:49 to bring home gold, beating Notre Dame's (Easton, PA) Beatrice Kelly (10:04). 267 girls took part in the race. Combined with the other Junior High girls races during the day, Kaci's time was 4th overall out of 640 runners.

Lauren placed 3rd overall in the Varsity Small School race, being one of three runners to go sub-18 minutes. Kosek ran 17:49, finishing behind East Aurora's Emilia O'Leary (17:23) and Williamson/Marion's Hannah Governor (17:46).

Kosek dropped one minute and four seconds off her time as last year's McQuaid Invite.

"My goals were top 3 and sub 18 minutes, and I met both of those with a 3rd place finish and a time of 17:49," Lauren said. "It was a very fast and competitive race, and I was excited to see that I could hold my own in such a good field of runners. I am ecstatic with the results, and am really starting to look forward to post-season!"

Combined with the other Varsity girls races, Lauren's time was 11th overall out of 1,562 runners.

Overall Wellsboro placed 28th as a team in the Varsity girls race, with a combined 674 places. Junior Sophia Yoder (23:59) was 193rd, senior Karah Blackwell (24:43) was 224th, freshman Molly Tice (24:48) was 228th, and freshman Anja Przybycien (25:12) finished 241st.

In the Boys Varsity race Wellsboro finished 33rd overall with 861 places. Junior Max Macias (16:39) was 27th overall, junior Henry Whitney (14:44) finished 77th, junior Ethan Geneski (20:01) was 233rd, freshman Lane Cozby (20:29) was 266th, freshman Jack Hammerton (22:10) was 344th, and junior Henry Nowak (22:18) finished 349th.

In the Junior High boys race Taitt Webster (10:18) was 63rd, Austin DeShazo (10:56) was 114th, and Jacob Patterson (11:33) was 168th.

Wellsboro returns to action on Tuesday, October 1 against Cowanesque Valley and Towanda.