Abington Friends School

About the Program: Part of the robust and growing interscholastic running program at AFS, Varsity Boys Cross-Country is a fall sport where participants race 5000 meters (3.1 miles) over rolling and varied natural terrain. Interested runners of all experience and skill levels are eligible to become part of the program, with the top-7 at each race forming the scoring Varsity team and all others representing the Junior Varsity. Individual development and improvement are hallmarks of the program with an experienced coaching staff of former collegiate runners tailoring training plans to maximize each runner’s ability. Since 1997, over 30 AFS runners have placed in the top-20 at the annual Friends Schools League Championship Meet held each October; several have earned All-State recognition; and many have continued to compete intercollegiately upon graduation. The season starts with preseason training in late August and concludes at the Pennsylvania Independent Schools State Championship Meet at the end of October.

AFS Varsity Boys Cross-Country Most Recent Season (2022):

• AFS Varsity Boys Cross-Country went 1-6 in dual meet season & finished 6th of 8 at FSL Championships.
• Lorimer Park in Huntingdon Valley served as home course for 2nd season. AFS hosted FSL Champs at Lorimer
• Keith Robinson ’23 (11th) & Ollie Copeland ’24 (13th) placed top-15 at FSL Championships and earned All-FSL honors.
• 11 runners competed in Varsity meets.
• Rob Hewitt completed 4th season as Head Coach.

• AFS Varsity Boys Cross-Country Program History:

• Individual runners started competing for AFS in Friends Schools League Cross-Country in 1982. First AFS team in 1997.
• Thirty-one top-20 runners at FSL Championship meets since 1997.
• 2021 team recorded program-best 2nd place finish at FSL Championship.
• Top-5 FSL Championship meet placements: Sami Aziz (3rd, 16:14, 2010), Anderson Lee (4th, 17:28, 2000), Nick Sperger (4th, 17:39, 2014), Dave Luber (4th, 18:08, 1998).
• Dexter Zapf ’22 earned 2nd Team All-State in 2021 with 9th place finish in 17:55.90 at PAISAA State Championships.
• Graduates (with AFS graduation year) have continued to compete collegiately at: U of Chicago (’22, track); Syracuse (’19, track); Pitt (’19, track); William & Mary (’16, crew); Clark (’15, cross-country); NYU (’11, wrestling); Penn State (’10, club cross-country); Wesleyan (’10, track); Goucher (’09, cross-country), Vassar (’09, cross-country), Franklin & Marshall (’09, cross-country).