RUNNER'S WORLD: THE LAST DANCE FOR NEB'S CREED DEWING; PLUS, A STATE PREVIEW (2024-10-30)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
As runners gear up for the PIAA Cross-country Championships nobody will be more familiar with the race than NEB’s Creed Dewing.

Dewing comes into his final state race as a 3-time medalist, and could make history as the only NTL boys’ runner to be a four time state medalist.

“That’s pretty cool,” Dewing said about that. “That’d be a good wrap-up, I’d really, really enjoy getting that goal.”

Dewing snuck into the medals back in 2021 with a 25th place finish. The past two seasons haven’t been as close, taking sixth in 2022, and seventh in 2023.

He comes in ranked seventh in the state in Class A this season.

“It’s another goal,” Dewing said about a state medal. “If it’s met, that’s good, but I just couldn’t be happier with how my career has gone, and how much fun I’ve had.”

Dewing fondly remembers his first time running the state back.

“The nerves are crazy,” he said. “Throwing up and nausea, but as it’s gone it’s gotten easier, and the nerves have gone down. It’s a really fun race, it’s a very tough race, definitely the toughest that you can come across in PA, so I’m really looking forward it.”

While the Panthers are a senior majority squad - four of their top seven graduate in 2025 - Dewing is enjoying showing the ropes to the younger kids, especially freshman Jackson Martin.

“I love Jackson, he’s been good,” remarked Dewing. “There’s a lot of younger guys coming up, so I’ve made it a point to really encourage them, and let them know how they’re doing, and making sure that they know what they can do, and realizing that they’re looking up to me, and saying, ‘hey, it’s not unfeasible to be good. You can be good, but you have to decide to be good.’”

The one thing he’s going to miss after this year will be the state course.

“The course is a lot of fun,” said Dewing. “The competition is incredible, and just the atmosphere. That race is so competitive and I’m a competitive person, so I really enjoy it.”

PIAA CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW

15 individuals and the NEB boys’ team will be competing on Saturday with the best in the state. 

In the Class A boys’ field Dewing is looking good to get his fourth straight medal, ranked eighth in the field. His teammate Ryan Jones comes in ranked 57th, while as a team the Panthers are sitting in sixth, according to the PennTrackXC rankings. 

Canton’s Lawrence Halbfoerster is ranked 37th coming into the race after taking 102nd as a sophomore last season. Wyalusing senior Trennan Tewksbury comes in ranked 62nd, he took 47th a year ago.

CV’s Hunter Simonds will be running in his first state race.

The 25th runner a year ago ran 17:17.

For the Class AA boys Athens’ Graham Wanck comes in ranked 25th in the state after taking 53rd as a freshman.

Wellsboro’s Max Macias is ranked 91st - he was 114th in the Class A race a year ago - while NP-Mansfield’s James Knefley will be running in his second straight Class AA championship.

The 25th runner last year ran 16:54.

In the Class A girls’ race Troy’s Alyssa Parks comes in ranked 33rd in the state. She was 49th a year ago.

Wyalusing’s Megan King comes in sitting in 88th, she just missed the medals last year, taking 27th.

This will be Sullivan County’s Zoey Reese’s first state meet.

The final medalist last year ran 20:52.

The most interesting race as locals are concerned may be the Class AA girls’ field. Wellsboro’s Lauren Kosek comes in ranked eighth in the state after taking 40th last year as a freshman.

Towanda sophomore Izzy Larson sits in 37th, Athens’ Sara Bronson is ranked 42nd, and CV freshman Natalie Yonker is at 47th - all positions that put them close to the medals

Bronson was 56th last year.

Torrina Stratton comes in ranked 92nd, while NPM’s Jaci Fairchild is also in the field. 

Last year’s 25th runner ran 20:05.

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