Last Tuesday’s Eastern Pennsylvania Conference cross country championships signified the end is near for the seniors on the Whitehall cross country teams.

Two girls - Mackenzie Laub and Allison Pavone - and one boy - Gavin Hagley - trekked around and through the DeSales University course for what is very likely their second final race of their careers. Laub and Pavone finished 61st and 103rd overall, respectively. Hagley claimed 101st.

“Mackenzie and Allison are both softball players who participate in club ball during the year while they also run cross country,” said Whitehall coach Michael Lelko.

During the 2021 season, the girls went 7-10 overall and finished 11th in the EPC tournament.

“Mack and Ally were responsible for an awesome chemistry and team bonding for the girls,” Lelko added. “They are the best team leaders a coach can ask for.”

While Hagley was the only senior boy at DeSales, he was not the senior on the club. Sean Connolly, Kyle Platton, Joshua Prince, Brenden Sargent and Shawn Woodring also contributed to the Zephyr cause in ‘21, leading their team to a 9-8 record. Connolly, Platton, Prince and Woodring ran for the Whitehall program throughout their middle and high school careers. Meanwhile, Hagley was the team’s MVP runner in 2019, according to Lelko.

“This was a great bunch of boys and girls who worked hard throughout the season and strived to be their best,” said the coach.

When asked what lessons long distance running can teach a young person as his seniors conclude their careers, Lelko responded this way: “Long-distance running is about being successful as both an individual and being part of the team,” he said. “It teaches you to have a strong work ethic and a healthy lifestyle.”

Lelko will miss the seniors and identified his most gratifying moment when they leave the program.

“As a coach, that’s when I see a Whitehall cross country graduate continue to run, workout and race as an adult.”