Dock Sets Best at Districts  The Dock Mennonite Boys Cross Country team came away with three personal records in their final race of the season. The Pioneers finished strong thanks to solid starts and brace racing all the way to the finish. Aaron Sensenig was the top finisher for the Pioneers as he was in every race this season. The junior captain recorded a new personal best of 18 minutes, 58.3 seconds for 18th place. He was one sport away from qualifying for his second straight state championship berth.  Josh Frederick set himself up for future success with a strong finish to his first season of cross country. While balancing playing soccer this season, the sophomore concluded his busy fall by placing 44th in a personal record 20:58.0.  Micah Salvatori also had an encouraging finish to set up a bright future. The sophomore continued his steady improvements by running a personal record 21:09:2 for 48th place.  Christopher Moore was the final Dock competitor. The senior got out to a good start with a 7:09 first mile, and concluded his career by running 24:58.3 for 66th place.  Dock ran without Rylan Purnell, who was injured. Maddy Churches, the lone girl this year, also did not compete due to injury. Moore is the lone Pioneers team member who is not expected to return the boys team in 2024.   

Pioneers progress at BAL Championships The Dock boys cross country improved admirably in their return to Tyler State Park for the Bicentennial Athletic League Championships on Wednesday. The race gave the Pioneers indisputable evidence of the incredible progress that they made in just a month since running at Tyler in the first BAL batch meet of the season. Aaron Sensenig remained the top Dock runner. The junior captain placed 13th overall to earn a medal as a second-team All-BAL honoree. He ran strong from the start, used a solid middle portion of the course to position himself well, and out kicked a pair of opponents to finish in 19:16, a huge jump from his 21:12 finish a month ago on the same course. Micah Salvatori was more than three minutes better than his first time on the course. The sophomore placed 47th in 21:42, just five seconds off his personal record on a far tougher course than his PR was set. A month ago, Salvatori ran 24:48 at Tyler. Josh Frederick has managed to continue to improve while juggling his primary commitment of soccer. Through some training on his own, he has lowered his time significantly. The sophomore placed 49th in 21:55, over two minutes faster than his 24:04 clocking from his first race at Tyler. No one dropped more time Wednesday at Tyler than Christopher Moore. The lone senior boy, Moore posted a finish time of 25:16 for 83rd place. A month ago, Moore ran 29:56 at Tyler. The Pioneers have just one remaining race guaranteed, but can earn another race individually. Dock will compete in the District 1 A Championships at Lehigh University on Friday, Oct. 27. The top 10 individuals after the runners on the top two teams are removed from the standings will advance to the state championships in Hershey. 

The Dock cross country program honored Maddy Churches and Christopher Moore at Senior Night after the Dock Invitational on Tuesday. Churches is a four-year member of the program and two-year captain. The senior is out this season while recovering from injury, but is the two-time state championship qualifier is the most experienced voice for the Pioneers and has been integral in keeping the team organized.  Moore is in his second year in the program. The senior returned after focusing solely in the Dock performing arts the past two years. He has made huge jumps this year, and his finishing kick Tuesday was one reason that Dock tied Renaissance Academy Charter for 13th place. The Pioneers hosted 17 teams in their largest field at the third annual Dock Invitational. Dock and Renaissance Academy Charter both scored 321 points. Holy Ghost Prep won the boys meet and Merion Mercy Academy won a narrowly contested girls race over Westtown.  Aaron Sensenig remained up front for the Pioneers. Returning from the social issues field trip just in time to warm up, the junior captain continued his hectic day before heading to the National Honor Society induction ceremony 31st in the boys race in 19:48.23, nearly a minute faster than his time on the same course in the first meet of the season. Micah Salvatori remained consistent coming off his fastest race of the season. The sophomore ran 21:59.61 for 70th place in his first race on the home course.  Josh Frederick battled through some second-half adversity to come in 83rd place in 22:40.57. It was also the sophomore’s first time competing on the home course. Moore continues to improve. Barely five weeks after running 28:36 at Dock, he ran his final home meet more than four minutes faster. He powered down the finish stretch to pick up a spot for the Pioneers that enabled them to tie Renaissance. The senior’s 24:33.04 clocking for 103rd was only 15 seconds off his newly established personal record set Saturday.  The Pioneers would not have scored as a team if Rylan Purnell didn’t finish the race. The sophomore fought through agonizing shin splints to get through the course and place 123rd in 32:59.75.  Dock will compete in the Ekiden Relay at Bristol on Friday in its final meet before a pair of championship races. 

The Dock boys cross country team returned to action Monday at Rose Tree Park in Media, PA, with some encouraging signs of improvement. The Pioneers scored as a team in the second Bicentennial Athletic League meet of the season. Dock finished fifth with 110 points, 19 behind fourth-place Plumstead Christian. Aaron Sensenig led the Pioneers in 11th place overall. The junior captain ran 20 minutes, 2 seconds, an improvement of more than 30 seconds over last year’s finish time at Rose Tree. Josh Frederick competed well for the Pioneers. The sophomore who doubles as a soccer player got out to a fast start and finished in a personal-best 22:10 for 23rd place. Micah Salvatori lowered his finish time for the third straight race. The sophomore dropped his personal record to 22:22 with a strong second half of the race to place 24th overall. Christopher Moore posted one of his best times as well. The lone senior boy ran 27:42 to take 42nd place. Rylan Purnell rounded out the Pioneers’ scoring. The sophomore ran 32:07 for 47th place. Dock will compete next at nearby Souderton on Saturday evening in the Twilight Invitational. 

The Pioneers had four finishers in both the first BAL meet of the season at Tyler State Park on Sept. 14 and again on Sept. 19 at the Curtis Arboretum in a meet hosted by Jenkintown. Aaron Sensenig led the Pioneers in both races and has been returning to form while balancing a busy schedule. The junior captain ran 21:12 for 11th place in the second race of the BAL meet at Tyler. He finished 12th overall in 19:36, just two seconds off his finish time a year ago, when Dock competed at Curtis. Josh Frederick was Dock’s second finisher at the BAL meet. The sophomore who also plays soccer finished 23rd in 24:02 in his first time on the Tyler course. Micah Salvatori continues to get stronger with every race. The sophomore was 26th in the BAL meet in 24:22. Five days later, he posted a finishing time of 22:55 for 39th place at Curtis. Christopher Moore is progressing well each week while also balancing a tight schedule. The lone senior on the boys team, Moore ran 29:56 for 37th place in the BAL meet in his first race there since Oct. 2020. He put together his most impressive showing of the season in a 27:03 finish for 56th place at Curtis, a full minute and a half faster than when he ran at Jenkintown as a freshman. Rylan Purnell was held out of running in the BAL meet by coaches, but competed in the meet at Curtis. The sophomore finished 62nd in 29:53, his top time of the year. Dock will not compete over Mini-Term, and will next compete in the second BAL meet of the season Oct. 2 at Rose Tree Park in Media.

Saturday was an exciting day of building for the Dock boys cross country team. Micah Salvatori and Rylan Purnell made their 5-kilometer debuts to help the Pioneers score as a team for the first time in two years. The minimum of five guys to score as a team finished to enable Dock to place 20th at the Dutchmen Invitational at Union Canal Tunnel Park in Annville, Pa. Aaron Sensenig paced the team for the second straight race. The junior captain ran 20:36.1 for 153rd place. His finish time was an improvement over his season opening race finish. Josh Frederick was Dock’s No. 2 finisher. The sophomore ran 23:45.0 to take 236th place in his second 5k of the season. Salvatori was barely a minute behind as the Pioneers’ third finisher. The sophomore was 245th overall in 24:48.5 in his first race for Dock. Christopher Moore ran through a leg strain that had flared up the day before, and he ran an extra portion of the course adding a segment to the second loop of the course, yet still came within one minute of his season best. The senior ran 29:06.3 for 265th place. Purnell finished up his first week on the team with an inspiring effort. The sophomore finished his first 5k in 269th place in 31:39.4. Dock will compete in its first Bicentennial Athletic League meet Thursday at Tyler State Park. 

Dock CC hosts Lansdale Invitational The Dock cross country team kicked off its season and the start of Labor Day weekend by hosting four schools in the Lansdale Invitational on Friday. On a beautiful morning, three Pioneer boys competed against several top area teams. Aaron Sensenig was the top finisher for Dock in 47th place in 20 minutes, 44 seconds after a big finishing push. The junior captain is the lone returning member from last year’s team. Josh Frederick ran his first cross country race for the Pioneers. The sophomore ran 23:05 for 60th place. Chris Moore competed for the first time since his freshman year. The senior opened his final year in 66th place in 28:36. The time was just 28 seconds off his personal record set as a freshman. It was more than 3 minutes faster than his freshman debut time. North Penn won the boys race over Upper Dublin and Methacton with Justin Landis setting a course record of 15:47. The Mount St. Joseph girls won the girls race over North Penn, Upper Dublin and Methacton with the Mount’s Kate Westmoreland’s 19:58 clocking leading the way. The real winner was Manna on Main. Lansdale Invitational participants brought 218 pounds of non-perishable items to donate to the local food pantry. Dock will host its second meet of the season Thursday when it welcomes Lancaster Mennonite.