NTL CROSS-COUNTRY: CANTON EYES A STRONGER SEASON FOR BOYS' SQUAD (2024-08-22)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Canton cross-country comes into the season with an up-and-coming boys’ team while they continue to work to build the girls’ squad. Leading the way for the boys’ is Lawrence Halbfoerster, who earned a state qualifying spot last season.

“Lawrence took a big step forward during his sophomore season by qualifying for states during cross-country, and breaking 10 minutes in the 2-mile during track season,” said coach Casey Aylesworth. “This year we are looking for improvements on consistency and trying to peak at the right time. Our goals for him is to try and make it back to Hershey; however, with only one team and five individuals going to states out of districts it’s definitely going to be tougher than previous years.”

Halbfoerster knows the times he ran last year won’t cut it this time around.

“I’ve been putting on a lot of mileage,” he said, noting his runs multiple times during the week.

Last year’s state qualifying run gave him confidence, but he also has motivation from the track season.

“I was kind of disappointed in myself when I didn’t make states in track,” Halbfoerster remarked. “It really just made me be like, ‘I need to make it this year.’ I even want to go to New Balance Nationals.”

His first goal is to finally break the 18-minute barrier, but ultimately he wants to go sub-17 minutes going into districts.

“I need to be keeping track of what I’m eating, and different things throughout the season, which I haven’t really had to do before,” he said. “That’s something I’m definitely going to need to work on.”

Team wise the boys have solid numbers at 10 kids with a mix of young and old.

“We will put out a more competitive team than we have had in the recent past, and having 10 guys will help with depth,” said Aylesworth. “Overall, this guys team is awesome to be around, and I can see a situation where we keep improving throughout the season, and run well at districts along as we stay healthy and hungry for competition.”

For the second year in a row the girls’ side has just one varsity runner, and Daveian Crowley comes into the season injured. They do have three junior high runners to have shown potential, though.

“Our girls numbers have been down for the past few years, and having a small group of junior high girls are definitely going to help rebuild the girls team back up in a few years,” Aylesworth said. “The girls are all younger siblings of boys on the team. They come from good families, and they can learn good habits from their older brothers. I’m excited to watch them improve throughout the season. Hopefully, we can draw in a few more kids through the next couple of years so we can build the girls team back up.”

ROSTER

Boys

Lawrence Halbfoerster

Manual Halbfoerster

Landon Lake

Nicholas Weaver

Nehemiah Wolcott

Tyler Engel

Joshua Hess

Sawyer Vroman

Simon Wile

Elton Weingartner

Girls

Daveian Crowley

SCHEDULE

Sep. 3 at Wellsboro w/Sayre, 4:30 p.m.

Sep. 6 at Lasagna Invitational, 4 p.m.

Sep. 10 vs Wyalusing, CV, 4:30 p.m.

Sep. 17 vs NEB, 4:30 p.m.

Sep. 24 at Towanda w/NPM, 4:30 p.m.

Sep. 28 at Bloomsburg Invitational

Oct. 1 at Sullivan County w/Athens, Troy, 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 12 at NTL Championships, 9 .m.

Oct. 24 at District IV Championships, 9 a.m.

Nov. 2 at PIAA Championships, 9 a.m.

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