Font ResizeThe sophomore from Red Lion is just into the indoor season with the men's track team, and he's already had two personal best performances.
Kareis finished fourth in the 3,000-meter run at the Northeast Challenge at Penn State with a time of 8:28.19. Last weekend, he finished second in the mile (4:13.57) at the Carle/Alliance Health meet at the University of Illinois.
"Greg is training and racing at a higher level this year," coach Clinton Bell said. "I believe that he has matured in his expectations of what it takes to compete with the best in Division I track and field."
Bell noted that the personal records are fine, but he thinks that Kareis is still improving.
"He will definitely run faster than those times before the indoor season is over," the coach said. "Greg is very talented and very young in terms of mileage and training intensity, so he has tons of growth waiting ahead of him."
Kareis showed signs last fall in cross country when he finished 11th in the IC4A Cross Country Championships.
Kareis and the Panthers will get a good test Friday when they compete in the Penn State National Challenge in State College.
Palmer solid: Messiah College senior Eddy Palmer (Central York) kicked off the indoor season by capturing the 800-meter run and the mile at the Dickinson Invitational. He followed that up by finishing fourth in the Open 800 (1:55.57)
"Eddy is looking forward to racing some great times this season," coach Dale Fogelsanger said. "He has really excelled by training with seven teammates who ran 1:57 or better last year including Pat Roach who ran 1:48."
The coach also feels that the fact that Palmer ran cross country the last two years has benefited him as well.
Palmer has set some goals for himself and the team this winter and spring.
"I want to compete at indoor and outdoor nationals, and I want our team to win indoor and outdoor MACs (Middle Atlantic Conference)," he said. "And, I want to run a sub 1:50 800 and a sub 3:55 in the 1,500 outdoors. Finally, I want to be an All-American."
Palmer is a captain this season.
"Eddy is a great leader by example," Fogelsanger said. "He has been a great athlete to coach. He's a blessing to me and our team in many ways."
Dalheimer honored: Shippensburg freshman Keith Dahlheimer (Red Lion) was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Week after a breakthrough performance at the Eastern Region Duals last weekend in Newberry, SC.
Dahlheimer, competing at 197 pounds, finished 3-1 with his only loss coming in his first contest against the reigning Division II National Champion Keeno Griffin of Newberry. It was one of the most competitive matches of the tourney with Griffin winning 7-4.
Dahlheimer followed the loss by pinning Belmont Abby's Tom McGee in 5:51. On Saturday, he wrestled twice and scored pins in 36 seconds and 1:12 seconds. The latter helped the Raiders score a come-from-behind victory over Limestone.
Dahlheimer is 9-7 on the season wrestling at 184 and 197 and he's tied for the team lead in pins with six.
MacDonald in reserve: Freshman Abby MacDonald (Red Lion) is seeing action as a reserve for the Penn College of Technology women's basketball team. She had a career-high 13 points in a 69-56 victory against Penn State Wilkes-Barre. The Wildcats currently lead the Penn State University Athletic Conference with a 6-1 record.
"Abby has provided us excellent depth at the point guard position with her outstanding ability to make things happen," coach Alison Tagliaferri said. "She is our consistent spark on the bench and could move into a starting position as the year goes on. She is an excellent passer and she works hard to get her teammates involved. I look forward to watching her grow as a player because she has a tremendous amount of potential."
