RUNNING ATHLETES
GWYNETH YOUNG
Cedar Crest High School/University of Pennsylvania
Gwyneth is an rising cross country and track star in the state of Pennsylvania. Gwyneth is Cedar Crest High School's top female runner. She came onto running scene during her freshman year in 2017, where she placed 40th at the PIAA State Cross Country Meet. Since then Gwyneth has placed inside the top 10 in her sophomore and junior campaigns. She holds an impressive 5k PR at 17:54 at the Lehigh Paul Short Run. Gwyneth is also a decorated track star with PRs of 2:18 in the 800, 4:53 in the 1600 and 10:21 in the 3200. She has two state medals in the 3200 at 8th and 4th. Gwyneth is featured in the 23rd edition of the FFM Sports Podcast.
LEO DASCHBACH
Highland High/University of Washington
Leo is a cross country and track phenom who attended Highland High in Arizona, and now attends Washington University. Leo is one of the greatest talents high school track has ever had. He is most well known for becoming the 11th high schooler in US history to break the 4 minute mile barrier, which he did in 3:59.54. He also has PRs of 1:51 in the 800, 8:51 in the 3200, and 14:14 in the 5k. Leo is featured in the 24th edition of FFM Sports Podcast.
MORGAN CUPP
Mechanicsburg High School/Cornell University
Morgan Cupp is a rising junior at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Morgan was a standout runner in high school at Mechanicsburg High School, running 4:19 in the 1600m and 15:24 in the 5000m. He has also won multiple district and state medals, most notably a 4th place at the 2017 PIAA State XC meet, as well as a pair of 2nd place medals at the 2018 PIAA District 3 meet.
CARTER PAUL
Mechanicsburg High School
Carter Paul is rising star in the mid-penn division of cross country. Carter is the #1 boy for Mechanicsburg. He sports a very past PR of 16:48 during the cross country season at Lehigh's Paul Short. Carter has also run road races (picture below) such as the Harrisburg Mile placing in the top 10. Carter had a strong 2020 season XC and Track season with a victory in XC against a deep Hershey team.
HOPE MCKENNEY
Mechanicsburg High School/Penn State University
Hope McKenney is Mechanicsburg's returning #1 runner for the 2020 cross country season, looking to lead the team. She is one of the best Mechanicsburg has ever had on the girls side, and does not lack talent anywhere. In the fall of 2019 Hope took PIAA District 3 running by storm with a 5th place finish in cross country as only a sophomore. Shortly after, Hope would lead Mechanicsburg girls cross country, with a 34th place finish, to a 5th place spot at the state meet. Along with those top finishes Hope sports PRs of 18:37 in the 5k, and 11:16 in the 3200m.
CADE RUSH
Shippensburg University
Cade is currently running cross country and track at the University of Shippensburg in the home state of FFM Sports, PA. He has been a great addition to the Shippensburg squad since the moment he arrived on campus.He spent his last year of high school at Carlisle, PA running up against current anchor JR. You can hear Cade's story on the 55th edition of FFM Sports.
NATALIE OSTHEIMER
Sharon City High School
A rising star in PA cross country Natalie is a sophomore at Sharon City High in PA. She has been running ever since she was little, and has had great accomplishments in the sport. You can hear her interview on the 56th edition of FFM Sports
DYLAN THROOP
General McLane High School/University of Pennsylvania
Dylan Throop is soon to be a freshman at The University of Pennsylvania, after a very successful career at General McLane High School. He captured a state title back during his junior year, at the PIAA 2A State Race. To hear his story, tune into the 56th edition of FFM Sports.
ALEXA FISHER
Steele High School/Texas A&M International
Alexa is from Steele High in Texas. She is a unique 3 sport athlete, running cross country and track, as well as playing volleyball. She is a phenomenal athlete making varsity since her freshman year. She is a Graceland University commit for all 3 sports. Hear her story in the New Years Special edition of FFM Sports.
TYLER DAY
Northern Arizona University/Hoka NAZ Elite
Part of one of the greatest college cross country teams in recent memory, Tyler Day is a professional runner out of Northern Arizona University. He now runs for Hoka NAZ Elite, based in Arizona. HE looks to have a very successful pro career. Make sure to check out his episode of FFM Sports.
NOELLE ENGLAND
Mechanicsburg High School
A standout sprinter since her freshman year at Mechanicsburg Area Senior High, Noelle England is the real deal from the 100m dash to the cross country 5k. Sporting many great performances, including a 2nd place team district finish in the 2020 XC season, Noelle is a vital piece of the Mechanicsburg girls XCTF teams. You can hear her stories in the 84th edition of FFM Sports.
SHAY MCEVOY
Tulsa University
The Tulsa University runner adds to the list of foreign athletes, as Shay McEvoy started his collegiate career far away from his home in Kilkenny, Ireland. Shay is part of the 6th place national team in the 2021 NCAA XC National Championships, and is a former u20 3k national champ back in Ireland.
CONNER MANTZ
Brigham Young University/Nike Track Club
One of the best American distance runners the country has seen in quite sometime. Mantz not only helped the BYU Cougars clean up a team XC title in 2019, but also won the individual title in his redshirt junior season in 2021. Mantz is phenomenal is every race he is a part of, taking it start to finish in his coined "Mantz Zone". You can hear how the two time national champ went through the process in the 91st edition of FFM Sports.
OLIVIA WALTER
Mechanicsburg High School/Arkansas State University
Olivia Walter is a decorated runner from Mechanicsburg. She was part of the #2 team in PIAA D3 and #5 team in the state back in 2019. She also holds a big 5th place individual finish at the 94th Jack Roddick Invitational in the 1600. She looks to take her talents D1 when her high school career is all said and done. You can hear her journey to the top in episode 101 of FFM Sports.
ROBERT DIDONATO
Germantown Academy/Stanford University
A very decorated runner at the high school level, the Stanford commit, has plenty of accolades to his name. Robert DiDonato is your Pennsylvania 3200m, who just recently broke the 14 year old record in 8:44. Robert is also a Footlocker XC national qualifier, which is one of the most elite races for a high schooler. You can hear his story in the 107th episode of FFM Sports.
WEBER LONG
Greencastle-Antrim High School/Wake Forrest
Weber Long is a rising senior at Greencastle-Antrim High School in PA. He has a number of golds on the track including; Mid-Penn 1600m, District 3 1600m and District 3 3200m. In addition to those, Weber will look to book his 4th straight to trip to the PIAA State XC meet in November 2021.
THOMAS VALLES
McFarland High School
You may have heard this name before in one of 2015's most popular movies McFarland USA. Thomas Valles is the lead runner from the actual state championship winning team depicted in the movie. He now spends his time publicly speaking and telling his story. You can hear part of that story in episode 123 of FFM Sports.
TJ RODEN
Central Dauphin High School/Penn State University
TJ Roden has been a force on the cross country and the track since his freshman year. He has racked up a number of great races including Champs XC nationals in 2022 and a 3rd place medal in the 1600m at the PIAA state meet. To hear more on TJ's story check out the 177th edition of FFM Sports.
BRIAN DICOLA
Hatsboro Horsham High School/Penn State University
Brian DiCola has conquered what many have dreamed of, a PIAA state title in cross country. He followed that race up with a 5th place at the Northeast regional race, punching his ticket to Nationals. Brian is also speedster on the track, with a PR of 4:06 in the 1600. To hear more about his career, check out the 178th edition of FFM Sports.
