Saegertown High School senior Nate Tallada has done it again. The talented cross country runner has clinched his fourth consecutive berth to the PIAA State Championships. At the District 10 Championship meet in Sharon on Oct. 29, Tallada ran the extremely muddy course in 18:01 to win himself his third District 10 title. Also qualifying for the state meet was junior Hunter Johnston, who came in fifteenth place. “I didn’t feel that I ran my best race at districts,” said Johnston. “The first half of the race went how I wanted it to, which gives me confidence going into the state meet. Hopefully [Tallada and I] can go down to states and both place.” Tallada is a three time state medalist, finishing 12th in 2008, 10th in 2009, and 19th in 2010. Tallada was unhappy with his finish in 2010 and hopes to move up in the pack this weekend. Johnston will be competing at the state meet for the second consecutive year. He did not medal in 2010. There will be a send-off for the runners on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 3 p.m. in the auditorium. The PIAA State Championships will be held Saturday, Nov. 5 at the course in Hershey, Pa.
Photos by Michael Callan (EIC of The Panther Press).