Jim Thorpe coach Drew Benyo wasn’t looking for a Schuylkill League Division 1 boys cross country championship this season.

But the Olympians are on course to deliver one.

Racing past rival Lehighton in a quad meet Wednesday that featured non-divisional teams Shenandoah Valley and Mahanoy Area, Jim Thorpe easily captured a victory over the Indians, 15-48. The Olympians also sacked Mahanoy Area 20-42 and Shenandoah Valley 20-40.

Six runners came up big in the run for Jim Thorpe. Although Shenandoah Valley and Mahanoy Area had the pacesetters, it was all Olympians with third-through-eight-place finishers.

Brandon Stasulli captured the top spot for the Blue Devils in a time of 18:39, which was 10 seconds ahead of second-place meet finisher Cole Streisel of Mahanoy Area.

Then it was all Thorpe. Sam Hydro (19:04), Marc Waslesyn (19:21), Noah Rodgers (19:24), Blake Kilmer 20:00, Joe Powierski (20:01) and Jacob Lippincott. That grouping led to the point spread for the victorious Olympians.

“Every race the boys have run has been great,” said Thorpe coach Drew Benyo as he watched his team go to 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the league. It has also won the Schuylkill Haven Invitational, and finished second at the Moravian Invitational, which had a strong field of runners.

Benyo knows his team could very well get pushed into the limelight next Wednesday when it will face off with perennial and defending D-I champion North Schuylkill. “We’ve run against everyone, and we still have to go to North Schuylkill where we will also run against Blue Mountain.”

Benyo said that his team has been able to rise higher this season because of its offseason dedication.

“We have more maturity this year, because of our seniors. We are led by Sam (Hydro), and he motivates the rest of the boys. Noah (Rodgers) has been a really big factor for us too.”

The big hurdle remaining for Jim Thorpe comes next week with the trip to Fountain Springs. North Schuylkill and Blue Mountain both have one loss at 5-1, and next week’s showdown will obviously settle who is the best in Division 1.

“It’s going to a be very big race for all of us,” said Benyo. “We know what Blue Mountain and North Schuylkill runners are like. But I really feel with our senior leadership, and the momentum we’ve built thus far, that we are sure good enough to win that meet.”

Indian girls sweep

Lehighton has been struggling on the girls’ side, but had a big day Wednesday when it knocked off the host Olympians 15-48, toppled Mahanoy Area 22-39, and whitewashed Shenandoah Valley 15-50.

The Indians had six of the top 10 finishers, led by Kelsey Gaston, the overall winner in at time of 23:24. The sophomore held off Maddison Quick of Mahanoy Area, and Gaston’s teammate Madison Cresseley copped third place in a time of 24:19. Also checking in with valuable points for Lehighton were fifth-place Asia Ahner (24:35), sixth-place Paige Wehr (24:45), and seventh-place Tinaya Klotz (25:32).

“I’m very pleased the way we’ve run this season,” said Lehighton coach Erica Pagotto. “We’re young when you look at us overall. Our best runner is sophomore Kelsey Gaston and she’s getting better each race. Her times keep dropping.

“We are very much on track to where I was hoping we would be.”

On Senior Day, the Olympians were led by freshman Megan Rosahac, as she finished in eight place in a time of 25:34. Adding points for Thorpe were Isabella Acker (11th, 26:33), Tessa Bevilacqua (27:27), McKenzie Snyder (27:40), and senior Emma Gavornik (28:15).

STILL IN REACH

… The North Schuylkill and Blue Mountain boys, who each have one loss, are both still in the running for the Division 1 title.

DATES TO REMEMBER

… Oct. 3 is when Jim Thorpe, Pottsville, Tamaqua meet at Schuylkill Haven. Oct. 10 Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Gillingham are at Weatherly; Oct. 17 is the Schuylkill League Meet; Oct. 24 is the District 11 meet, and Nov. 3 is the PIAA championships.

BOYS

Jim Thorpe 20, Mahanoy Area 42

Jim Thorpe 15, Lehighton 48

Jim Thorpe 20, Shenandoah 40

Leighton 24, Mahanoy Area 36

Shenandoah 18, Lehighton 39

1. Brandon Stasulli (SV) 18:39; 2. Cole Streisel (MA); 3. Sam Hydro (JT); 4. Marc Waslesyn (JT); 5. Noah Rodgers (JT); 6. Blake Kilmer (JT); 7. Joe Powierski (JT); 8. Jacob Lippincott (JT); 9. Luis Velazquez (SV); 10. Educ Zamudio (SV); 11. Evan Beers (L); 12. Marcus Crespo (MA); 13. Diego Olayo (SV); 14. Ben Mathisen (L); 15. James Schwartz (JT) 21:08.

GIRLS

Lehighton 22, Mahanoy Area 22

Lehighton 15, Shenandoah 50

Lehighton 15, Jim Thorpe 48

Jim Thorpe 15, Shenandoah 50

Jim Thorpe 25, Mahanoy Area 35

1. Kelsey Gaston (L) 23:24; 2. Maddison Quick (MA); 3. Madison Cresseley (L); 4. Cierra Abrachinsky (MA); 5. Asia Ahner (L); 6. Paige Wehr (L); 7. Tinaya Klotz (L); 8. Megan Rosahac (JT); 9. Alyssa Williams (L); 10. Kendall Mease (L); 11. Isabela Acker (JT); 12. Sarah Laible (L); 13. Tessa Bevilacqua (JT); 14. McKenzie Snyder (JT); 15. Emma Gavornik (JT) 28:15.