Ruiz dusts off Dusen for a 14:57 win

WARMINSTER, PA -- After a subpar team performance at the Great American Cross County Festival in mid September, the Jamestown coach gave his boys squad a week off from racing to mentally regroup and train hard. The Jamestown squad was hoping the week off would benefit them and help them get prepared for the big hometown invitational on their home course, the William & Mary Invitational. However, they then found out days before the meet that their top runner, Bryce Ruiz, would not run due to a hamstring injury. The squad ran respectably at the W&M Invitational, but nowhere near what they wanted as they ran without their team leader.

Week later, insert Ruiz and a long trip to Philadelphia, the Jamestown boys squad got a breakthrough race from their star and the feeling that everything is starting to click for the team itself.

After getting a 2 week layoff, Ruiz came back with arguebably his best race ever as he won in 14:57, running the second fastest time on the very challenging and hilly William Tennent HS 3 mile course. The time was 10 seconds off the meet record of 14:47 set by former Council Rock HS and presently Boston U. runner Dan Coval who was a Foot Locker All American last year. Ruiz faced a serious challenge though from Central Bucks East's Karl Dusen, who is currently ranked as the #1 runner in Pennsylvania and had not been beaten yet heading into the race. For 2 miles, the 2 runners battled it out, but then at the 2 mile mark, Ruiz made a huge surge and dusted off Dusen. He ended up putting 12 seconds on Dusen the last mile as Dusen finished in at 15:09.

The Jamestown boys squad had a breakthrough meet as well. Ruiz's run evidently gave his teammates a shot in the arm filled with confidence and speed. The Eagles were able to get their entire top 5 under 17, as #5 runner Phillip Cooke ran a personal best 16:59. The Eagles placed second in the meet behind traditional powerhouse Central Bucks East, yet managed to be defending PA state champion Council Rock using a 6th runner tiebreaker as they amounted 95 points.