DELCO XC Pod

🏆 THE ROAD TO STATES!

Championship season is here, and we're breaking down all the action from the PIAA District 1, PIAA District 12, and PAISAA Cross Country Championships!

Who delivered when it mattered most? Which teams punched their tickets to the PIAA State Championships? Who came up just short, and which individual performances stole the spotlight?

We'll dive into the team battles, individual qualifiers, standout performances, surprises, and storylines from an exciting championship weekend.

From District 1 to District 12 to the PAISAA Championships, the road to states is officially underway!

🎙️ DELCO XC Podcast – Covering the teams, athletes, and stories that make Pennsylvania cross country special!

#DELCOXC #PIAAXC #District1 #District12 #PAISAA #RoadToStates

hampionship week is in the books, and the DELCO XC Podcast is breaking down the biggest performances, team battles, and individual champions from across the region!

🎙️ ON THIS EPISODE:

🟦 ChesMont American Championships — Unionville dominates the boys' team race, while Sun Valley freshman Tru Chubbs finishes an impressive sixth overall. On the girls' side, Kennett brings home standout performances up front.

🟠 Del Val Championships — Penn Wood's John Esteris captures the boys' individual title, while Interboro wins the team championship. On the girls' side, Chester claims the team crown behind freshman individual champion Milan Keller.

🟡 BAL Championships — Delaware County Christian finishes runner-up in the boys' team standings, led by Kellan Reed. Then, Addi Atkins steals the spotlight by winning the girls' individual championship by more than 52 seconds!

⛪ Philadelphia Catholic League Championships — La Salle puts on a dominant boys' team performance, sweeping the top five individual places. We also spotlight Bonner & Prendie, Cardinal O'Hara, and Archbishop Carroll, including Tess Knisely's fifth-place finish in the girls' race.

🏆 RUNNERS OF THE WEEK — PRESENTED BY RIDLEY RUNNING COMPANY!

From championship victories and team depth to freshmen making their mark and seniors delivering when it matters most, league championship week gave us plenty to celebrate.

Who made the biggest statement? Which performances will carry momentum into the postseason? And which athletes should we be watching next?

🎧 Tune in for the full breakdown!

🎙️ DELCO XC Podcast
🏃 Delaware County Cross Country
👟 Runners of the Week presented by Ridley Running Company

#DELCOXC #DELCOXCPodcast #PennsylvaniaXC #CrossCountry #RunDELCO

Episode Description:

🏆 Championship season is here! We kick things off with a look back at the Central League and Inter-Ac League Championships, recapping the results, standout performances, and biggest storylines from both meets.

🔥 Then, we preview four more league championships: the Philadelphia Catholic League (PCL), Bicentennial Athletic League (BAL), DEL VAL League, and ChesMont American Division. We break down the top teams, individual contenders, and potential surprises on both the boys’ and girls’ sides.

📊 Who are the favorites to bring home league titles? Which individual runners could steal the show? And which teams are ready to make a statement?

📈 At the end of the episode, we reveal our latest DELCO XC Team Rankings and announce the Runners of the Week, brought to you by Ridley Running Company!

🎧 Championship predictions, team battles, individual stars, and everything DELCO cross country — all on the DELCO XC Podcast!

Championship week is here! 🏆 We break down the Central League and Inter-Ac League Championships, highlighting the top contenders, individual matchups, teams to watch, and storylines that could shape the races. Who will rise to the occasion and bring home the hardware? It's time to get ready for championship racing in DELCO! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

The DELCO XC Championships delivered everything we could ask for: dramatic finishes, historic team victories, breakout performances, and some incredible racing across Delaware County!

On this episode of the DELCO XC Podcast, Kevin Kee breaks down all the action from the championship races, including Radnor's Coco Conner winning a thrilling girls' individual title and Connor Walsh capturing the boys' championship. On the team side, Episcopal Academy claimed the girls' crown, while Ridley made history by winning its first boys' team title since 1997!

🔥 Inside this episode:

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🥇 Coco Conner's thrilling victory in a four-runner battle for the girls' title

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🏆 Connor Walsh and Rowan Carr battling for the boys' individual championship

•

💪 Episcopal Academy's pack running powering the girls to the team title

•

🟢 Ridley's historic boys' team championship and the connection to the 1997 champions

•

⚔️ Springfield's emergence as a girls' team contender

•

🏃 The Penncrest-Haverford battle for second on the boys' side

•

🌟 JV and novice race highlights, plus a look at DELCO's future stars

Plus, we recognize our DELCO XC Runners of the Week, celebrate standout performances, and look back at a championship meet that felt like DELCO XC at its very best!

Thank you to everyone who came out, supported the runners, and continues to support the DELCO XC Podcast!

🎧 Subscribe, follow, and share the DELCO XC Podcast!

#DELCOXC #DELCOXCChampionships #CrossCountry #PennsylvaniaXC #HighSchoolRunning

🏆 DELCO CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW! 🏆

The biggest race of the DELCO XC season is here! Kevin Kee breaks down the biggest storylines heading into the DELCO Championships and makes his predictions for what could be an unforgettable day of racing.

🔥 On this episode:

•

🧩 A Missing Piece for Episcopal Academy — Can they overcome a key absence?

•

🏆 History Could Be Made for Marple Newtown — Could the Tigers make DELCO history on the girls side?

•

⚔️ Freshman vs. Freshman — Tru Chubbs vs. Ryan McNamee: Who will come out on top?

•

🏆 Top 5 Teams — Who will claim the team championships?

•

⭐ Top 10 Individuals — Which runners have what it takes to finish among DELCO's best?

•

🔮 The Biggest Storylines — The matchups, teams, and individual battles you need to watch

The predictions are in. The storylines are set. Now it's time to see who delivers when it matters most.

DELCO CHAMPIONSHIPS — LET'S GET READY TO RACE! 🏃‍♂️💨🏃‍♀️💨

🔥 THE ROAD TO DELCOs IS HERE! 🏆

The DELCO XC Podcast is back with a massive championship-season episode as we break down a scorching weekend of racing at Paul Short and Salesianum!

With the Delaware County Championships just ONE WEEK AWAY, the rankings are heating up — and so are the teams.

🏆 DELCO TOP 5 RANKINGS
We reveal the latest Top 5 teams on both the girls and boys sides:

🏃‍♀️ Girls:
1️⃣ Marple Newtown
2️⃣ Episcopal Academy
3️⃣ Haverford
4️⃣ Radnor
5️⃣ Strath Haven

🏃‍♂️ Boys:
1️⃣ Ridley
2️⃣ Penncrest
3️⃣ Haverford
4️⃣ Episcopal Academy
5️⃣ Strath Haven

We also give honorable mentions to teams like Penncrest, Springfield, Radnor, and Garnet Valley as the championship picture continues to take shape.

🔥 PAUL SHORT BREAKDOWN
We dive into the biggest performances from DELCO teams at Paul Short, including:

• Episcopal Academy's incredible girls pack
• Radnor's strong showing
• Penncrest's combination of front-end firepower and depth
• Haverford's tight scoring pack
• Strath Haven's impressive front four
• Garnet Valley's quietly impressive 1-5 spread
• Ridley's five runners under 17 minutes
• Penncrest's depth and potential bounce-back
• Haverford's dangerous front three
• Episcopal's incredible boys depth

And we talk about one of the most impressive team performances of the weekend — Strath Haven's boys putting four runners between 16:51 and 17:00!

🏃‍♂️ SALESIANUM
We head to Salesianum and highlight Springfield's team victory, along with the impressive depth of Haverford School and Springfield's Varsity B boys squad.

🏆 RUNNERS OF THE WEEK
Presented by Ridley Running Company!

🏆 DELCO CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE NEXT!

The rankings are set. The teams are getting healthy. The packs are tightening.

One week until Rose Tree Park.

Who is ready?

🎙️ Hosted by Kevin Kee
🏃 DELCO XC Podcast
🤝 Runner of the Week presented by Ridley Running Company

The DELCO XC Podcast is back with a packed episode as Delaware County cross country continues to heat up!

We kick things off with the latest DELCO Top 5 Rankings on both the girls and boys sides before diving into a full breakdown of the Downingtown West Whippets Invitational.

On the girls side, we break down Marple Newtown's impressive front five, Haverford's incredible pack running, Episcopal Academy's combination of experience and youth, Agnes Irwin's strong front end, Garnet Valley's depth, and the developing groups at Delaware County Christian and Cardinal O'Hara.

Then we turn to the boys, where Haverford's unbelievable compression steals the spotlight. We also break down Marple Newtown's low-stick strength, Garnet Valley's depth, Sun Valley's young front-end talent, and the developing packs at Delaware County Christian and Cardinal O'Hara.

Plus, we head over to the Foundation Invitational at Big Spring to check in on Archbishop Carroll's girls and boys.

And, of course, we recognize this week's DELCO XC Runners of the Week, presented by Ridley Running Company!

As October approaches, the championship season is getting closer — and the team races across DELCO are getting tighter.

Who has the best pack?
Who has the best front runner?
Which teams are closing their gaps?
And which programs are starting to make their move?

It's all here on the latest episode of the DELCO XC Podcast!

🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ DELCO XC Podcast
📍 Delaware County Cross Country
🎙️ Presented by Ridley Running Company

DELCO XC is starting to take shape! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

This week on the DELCO XC Podcast, Kevin Kee breaks down a huge weekend of Delaware County cross country action, including the Adidas XC Challenge in North Carolina, the George School Invitational, and the Ben Bloser Bulldog Invitational.

We take a deep dive into the teams beginning to establish their identities — from Springfield's powerful front two, to Episcopal's incredible depth, Marple Newtown's dominant girls pack, Strath Haven's complete lineup, Penncrest's combination of elite low sticks and depth, Ridley's front-end firepower, Haverford Township's unbelievable pack, and Garnet Valley's team compression.

Plus, we reveal this week's DELCO Top 5 Rankings:

🏃‍♀️ Girls

• Marple Newtown
• Episcopal Academy
• Strath Haven
• Haverford
• Radnor

🏃‍♂️ Boys

• Ridley
• Penncrest
• Strath Haven
• Episcopal Academy
• Haverford

And of course, it's time for the Runner of the Week, presented by Ridley Running Company!

🏆 Boys
🏆 Girls

From superstar low sticks to tightly packed teams, freshmen making an impact, and runners fighting for varsity spots, DELCO XC is getting deeper and more competitive every week.

The championship season is still ahead — and the next few weeks could change everything.

🎙️ DELCO XC Podcast
📍 Delaware County Cross Country
📲 Follow @DELCOXCPOD on Instagram

#DELCOXC #DELCOXCPodcast #CrossCountry #PennsylvaniaXC #RunDELCO

The latest DELCO XC Pod episode is packed with team rankings, invitational breakdowns, and two standout Runners of the Week, proudly presented by Ridley Running Company!

🏃‍♂️ DELCO Boys Top 5
The rankings stay unchanged this week, with Strath Haven holding onto the #1 spot, followed by Ridley, Penncrest, Haverford, and Episcopal Academy. With all five teams off, there was no reason to shake things up.

🏃‍♀️ DELCO Girls Top 5
Marple Newtown remains #1 after another impressive showing at Briarwood. Episcopal Academy, Springfield, Strath Haven, and Haverford round out the Top 5, while Radnor continues to make a strong case for consideration.

🏃‍♂️ Briarwood Boys — Marple Newtown & Archbishop Carroll
We break down the contrasting team pictures of Marple Newtown and Archbishop Carroll. Julian Bothma continues to provide Marple with an elite low stick, while Garret Hager, Pj Lee, Owen Cowley, and Cayden Wark are forming an increasingly dangerous pack behind him.

For Carroll, sophomore Markell Houston continues to show consistency up front, but the Cardinals are still looking to close the gaps behind their young leader.

🏃‍♀️ Briarwood Girls — Why Marple Newtown Is #1
This is where Marple really makes its case.

Sloane Smith wins the race in 19:42, but the bigger story may be what happens behind her. Jessica DeMaio, Avery DeCecco, and Brooke Davis finish 6th, 7th, and 9th, giving Marple three runners separated by just 12.6 seconds.

Four Marple runners finish inside the Top 21.

That's not just depth. That's team scoring power.

🏃‍♀️ Silver Lake Invitational — Agnes Irwin & Cardinal O'Hara
Davis Bauman puts together a statement performance for Agnes Irwin, winning the Silver Lake Invitational in 19:36.40 and setting a new course record.

We also break down Agnes' strong front three and what they need to do to tighten the back end.

On the O'Hara side, the girls show a tight group led by Luciana, Amalia Christie, and Monica Greco, while the boys put together a full team score led by John Paul Gallagher. O'Hara's boys show some promising compression at the back, but closing the gaps behind Gallagher will be the key to taking the next step.

🏆 Girls Runner of the Week

🏆 Boys Runner of the Week
Presented by Ridley Running Company

🎙️ Listen now to the latest episode of the DELCO XC Pod!
#DELCOXC #CrossCountry #PennsylvaniaXC #DELCO #HighSchoolXC #RunnerOfTheWeek #RidleyRunningCompany

he DELCO XC Pod is back with our first Top 5 rankings of the 2026 season!

Kevin Kee breaks down the opening weeks of Delaware County cross country, including the Unionville Two Mile Bash, PTXC 5K, Northampton Invitational, and Abington Invitational.

On the boys' side, Strath Haven, Ridley, Penncrest, Haverford and Episcopal Academy make up our first Top 5, while Marple Newtown, Episcopal Academy, Springfield, Strath Haven and Haverford lead the girls' rankings.

But this episode is about more than rankings. It's about what actually wins cross country races: the pack.

We break down team compression, low sticks, scoring gaps and the runners who could make the biggest difference as the season develops. We also spotlight standout performances from Connor Walsh, Cassidy Jones, Cecilia Kane, Sloane Smith, Cayla Gaffney, Rowan Carr, Sean Holst-Rightley and many more.

Plus, we announce this week's Runner of the Week, presented by Ridley Running Company

It's only September. The rankings will change. The packs will tighten. And the road to November is just getting started.

This is DELCO XC. Every week, the pack changes.

This week on the DELCO XC Podcast, Coach Kee gives you a look behind the scenes with “The Life of Coach Kee” — sharing some fun tidbits, stories, and experiences from coaching at a non-DELCO school with Lower Merion.

Then, we're going back to the basics with Cross Country 101! New to the sport? New XC parent? Just trying to figure out why everyone is standing around in a field waiting for runners to disappear into the woods? We've got you covered! We'll break down how cross country scoring works, what spectators and parents should expect at a meet, and how to attend and enjoy a race.

Finally, it's time for the ultimate DELCO class battle! We take a look at the Sophomore vs. Junior vs. Senior classes and ask: Which class has the most depth in Delaware County? We'll compare the top runners, build hypothetical teams, and see which class comes out on top — boys AND girls!

And of course, a huge thank you to this episode's sponsors:

📿 DELCO Beads — Follow @DELCO_beads on Instagram and show off your DELCO pride!

👟 Ridley Running Company — Supporting the local running community and helping runners get where they're going.

So whether you're a seasoned XC parent, a first-time spectator, a coach, or just someone who loves Delaware County cross country, this episode has something for you!

Listen, follow, and subscribe to the DELCO XC Podcast!

Some people leave an impact on your life without ever realizing just how much they meant to you. Harry Chaykun was one of those people.

This is a thank-you to Harry Chaykun, to Terry Toohey, and to everyone who has used their voice to make young athletes feel like they matter.

Because the people who inspire us don't ever really leave us. We carry pieces of them forward—and sometimes, we carry their stories, too.

From Harry's Granddaughter:

My goal is to gather as many stories as possible and create something that I can sit beside my grandad and show him.I want him to see the faces.I want him to hear the stories.I want him to understand just how many lives he touched.Because for decades, Harry told everyone else’s stories.Now I want to tell his.I want my grandad to know that the work he dedicated his entire life to mattered.That the athletes he believed in remember him.That the stories he wrote mattered.That the countless hours he spent on the sidelines mattered.And most importantly, that he mattered.To my grandad, you spent a lifetime making sure other people got their moment.Now it’s your turn.Let’s come together as a community and give Harry Chaykun the moment he deserves. If you have a story, memory, photo, article, video, or anything else you’d like to share, please message me directly. You can also email me at madison@lifeofmadison.com. Please share this far and wide.

For Harry.

The 2025 cross country season was only the beginning.

Delaware County’s sophore class has already shown flashes of what could be a massive transformation. From standout performances to developing depth, this group has the talent, experience, and potential to reshape Delco XC in 2026.

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the girls and boys from Delco’s 2025 freshman class and look ahead to what could happen after a summer of training, growth, and confidence-building.

We spotlight emerging stars like Cayla Gaffney, Jessica DeMaio, Nick Kane, Oliver Brody, Colin Park, Rudy Goerke, and many more, while examining the young groups at Strath Haven, Marple Newtown, Garnet Valley, Episcopal Academy, The Haverford School, Radnor, Penncrest, and programs throughout Delaware County.

Because the jump from freshman to sophomore year can change everything.

More strength.
More confidence.
More racing experience.
More belief.

The summer miles are coming. And by October 2026, some of these promising freshmen could be leading the next era of Delaware County cross country.

The future of Delco XC is already here.

Cross country is a sport built on pushing limits—but sometimes the most important race is the one happening inside your head. In this episode of the DELCO XC Podcast, we take a deeper look at the importance of mental health and mindfulness for cross country athletes.

Because cross country is about more than times, places, PRs, and medals. The goal is to build athletes who are mentally strong, resilient, and able to enjoy the journey.

Run hard. Breathe. Be present. And remember: you are more than a stopwatch.

The wait is over—Season 4 of the DELCO XC Podcast is here!

In one of the most anticipated episodes of the offseason, Kevin unveils his Way-Too-Early 2026 Delaware County Cross Country Team Rankings, counting down the preseason Top 10 boys and girls teams heading into the fall.

From powerhouse programs like Penncrest, Haverford, and Episcopal Academy to rising contenders ready to make a leap, every ranking is based on returning talent, varsity depth, and each program's potential entering the 2026 season.

In this episode:

• 🏃 Boys & Girls Preseason Top 10 Rankings
• 🔥 Which teams have the highest ceilings?
• 👀 Biggest storylines heading into the season
• 📈 Programs poised to surprise Delco
• 📱 Updates on Instagram takeovers and a major DELCO XC announcement
• 🎙️ A new way for athletes to be part of the podcast this season

These rankings are only the beginning—and they'll certainly spark some debate.

Do you agree with the rankings? Who's too high? Too low? Who did we miss?

Follow @DELCOXCPod on Instagram for offseason coverage, athlete spotlights, takeovers, and more as we count down to the opening race of the 2026 cross country season.

Keep running, Delco. 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🎙️

Reaction to the course change for PIAA Championships beginning Fall 2026!

In this special edition of the DELCO XC Podcast, we hit pause on predictions, rankings, and race breakdowns — and shift the focus to what truly matters: appreciation.
This episode is a love letter to DELCO cross country. To the miles, the mud, the struggle, the community, the laughter, the heartbreak, and the joy. It’s about the athletes who define the culture, the coaches who give everything, the parents who show up no matter what, and the county that has always been built different.
We also unveil the unofficial DELCO 20 — the twenty athletes who embodied grit, presence, leadership, and identity this season. Because this sport is bigger than times. Bigger than medals. Bigger than lists.
It’s for the love of the sport — and for the people who make DELCO cross country what it is.

In this episode of the DELCO XC Podcast, we break down the PIAA State Championships — where every stride is earned and every finish means something. From breakout performances to unforgettable displays of resilience, Delco athletes once again proved that toughness is more than a mindset — it’s our identity.

We highlight standout races from Sloane Smith’s historic finish, to Haverford’s team-first heart, to the grit shown by individuals across the county pushing through adversity. From AAA to A, boys and girls, this episode captures the pride, the edge, and the tradition that makes Delco running built different.

This week on the DELCO XC Podcast, we dive into one of cross country’s most overlooked truths — it’s a team sport through and through.

From PIAA District 1, District 12, and the PA Independent State Championships, we break down how chemistry, trust, and execution decide who’s heading to Hershey.

We talk Haverford’s dangerously confident run, Penncrest’s breakout performance, and Marple’s Julian Bothma’s moment of joy, before heading over to Belmont Plateau to unpack Episcopal Academy’s historic finish, Agnes Irwin’s podium push, and Notre Dame’s surprise top-5 at PAISAA.

Add in a few laughs, a shot at ChatGPT’s “predictions,” and some love for the runners who just missed the cut — and you’ve got a full plate of district drama, DELCO pride, and the road to the land of chocolate 🍫.

Buckle up, tie those spikes tight, and get ready to be dangerously confident.