An illness spoiled Landon Detweiler's junior season. In his senior season, Detweiler is determined to stay strong and help lead Upper Perkiomen's cross country team to a strong showing in the District 1 championship meet.

                "I feel really healthy," he said. "My goal is to make it to states."

                Detweiler has already posted a personal best time this season. In the Northampton Invitational on Sept. 3, the Indians' initial meet, he smashed the old standard by 7 seconds with a time of 16 minutes, 53 seconds.

                He ran the first mile in 5:11, at least 9 seconds faster than normal, but had enough energy left to pick up the pace in the third and final mile.

                "That course was flat and fast," Detweiler said. "And there was a lot of competition around me. I had the right mindset."

                One week later, at the Bulldog Invitational in Delaware County, his fourth-place finish in the small school division led the Indians to a third-place overall finish.

                Cameron Junk, Sam Daub, Luke McGrotty, Adam Dockery, Mike Milkowich, Lane Homan, Dylan Simms and Jacob Heffner each earned individual medals at the Sept. 10 meeting despite oppressive heat. "Landon looks strong," Head Coach Todd Neimmann said. "His stride looks more efficient and relaxed. His legs appear to be turning over faster."

                Detweiler should have plenty of competition on the track from teammates Junk and Dowd, as well as Dockery, a freshman.

                The coach said he expects the team – which he calls the largest he's ever had – to be competitive in the Pioneer Athletic Conference's Frontier Division, which includes Phoenixville, Pope John Paul II, Pottstgrove, Pottstown and Upper Merion.

                On Sept. 7, Upper Perkiomen suffered a 25-32 loss to the Phantoms in the first of  two home dual meets this season. Detweiler finished first overall with a time of 17:32. Junk took fourth (18:04) and Daub sixth (18:38).

                The team features 33 members, including 16 ninth graders. Neimmann credits a solid middle school program for the large numbers.

                However, team health could be the key to successful season. Midway through last season, Detweiler developed a cough and his performance suffered, according to Neimmann, who added that Junk and Daub suffered with similar illnesses.

                "Landon peaked during the middle of the year," the coach said. "You could see that he was laboring."

                Serena Detweiler, Landon's sister, paced the Upper Perkiomen's girls' cross country team during the same meet. She finished first overall (20:47), but could not prevent a 22-37 victory by the Phantoms.

                "I trained real hard all summer," Serena Detweiler said. "I want to drop my time below 20 minutes."

                Leeann Markwalter (23:44), Alexa Banner (26:59) and Sara Adamkovic (27:42) finished fourth, ninth and 10th, respectively, for the Indians.

                Neimmann describes Serena Detweiler as a competitor who has a chance to earn a medal at the Pioneer Athletic Conference championship meet.

                "Serena is a battler," the coach said. "She doesn't have the perfect form, but her stride is pretty efficient. I don't see too much wasted movement."