were plenty of opportunities for older
athletes, but none, to his knowledge,
that were devoted exclusively to those of
middle school age.
In 1998, Coach Shiner’s first middle
school invitational drew roughly 500
runners from 20 area schools. Since
then, he estimates 13,000 runners have
taken part in the 1.65-mile race that’s
held each September at the Hartwood
Acres cross country course.
Although it doesn’t get headlinegrabbing attention, the Fox Chapel
Northern Invitational has become the
biggest race of the year solely for area
middle school cross country runners.
The 2013 event – the most successful
one to date – attracted 1,100 seventh
and eighth graders from 48 schools
and more than 1,000 spectators. Just
about every school district in the North
Hills area sent representatives, and this
fall, runners came from as far away as
Somerset, Pennsylvania.
One attractive aspect of the invitational
is the format, which features four
separate races, one for each grade level
and gender.
“It is the only meet our kids attend that
has separate seventh and eighth grade
races,” offers Dave Sheets, a middle
school cross country coach for the
Hampton Township School District.
“Pete also gives out 30 quality medals
per race, which exceeds the number
awarded at
any other
invitational.
This allows
kids who do
not earn any
recognition
all season the
opportunity
to have a
moment of
glory.” Coach
Sheets continues, “I walk away each year,
amazed how every year seems better
than the previous one.”
“The unique format allows the seventh
graders a chance to shine in their own
event instead of being overshadowed by
the faster and more developed eighth
graders,” explains Coach Shiner, whose
21 years as a teacher at Dorseyville
Middle School has provided insight
about the psyche and motivation of
teenagers.
The popular event is a labor of love for
Coach Shiner and his assistant coach and
fellow DMS teacher Matt LaPatka, but
it also has evolved into a logistical and
organizational challenge.
“It’s become a year-long thing to plan,”
says Coach Shiner. “Matt and I work
with about 30 parent volunteers, many of
whom no longer have kids on the team
but come back because they enjoyed the
experience. Plus, the entire high school
team of almost 70 kids comes too. They
help out with concessions, T-shirt sales,
and helping at the finish line. Sometimes
200 runners pass the finish line in a span
of two minutes. %Ёݽձ