A late push by three seniors helped Upper Perkiomen's boys cross country team rally for a victory Tuesday. Mikey Milkowich's dash in the final 50 meters lifted the

Sophomore Donnie Miller, center, won the boys race in 17:12 in the meet against Phoenixville on Tuesday. At his side is teammate Blandin Conklin.

team to a 27-28 victory over Phoenixville in the Pioneer Athletic Conference.

          Head coach Todd Neimann credited Milkowich, Jacob Heffner and Jonathon Daub for sparking the Indians to the one-point win. Heffner and Daub both passed Phoenixville's Yash Agnihorti in the final 400 meters to finish sixth (18 minutes, 48 seconds) and seventh (18:56), respectively.

          According to the coach, Milkowich provided the decisive points by finishing ninth with a time of 19:05. Milkowich passed Nick Gatcha with 50 meters remaining and beat him by a second to hand the Phantoms their first conference loss of the season.

          "Our guys are pretty gutsy," Neimann said. They showed a lot of grit. Our top 10 finishers ran very well."

          Sophomore Donnie Miller won the race in 17:12. William Daub finished fourth overall with a time of 18:12. Blandin Conklin collapsed with 500 meters left due to heat exhaustion and did not finish the race, according to Neimann.

          Miller and Conklin have emerged as the top two male runners, according to Neimann. He said Miller has been slightly better of late.

          The two train together, according to the coach. He said both runners are willing to do whatever is necessary to improve.

          Last week, Miller finished fourth at the Penncrest Invitational in Media on Sept. 28 with a time of 16 minutes, 49 seconds. Neimann described him as the first sophomore he has ever coached to break 17 minutes.

          "I'm not surprised the way he is running," the coach said. "Donnie is really competitive. He's all in on the sport. He is incredibly coachable."

          Neimann described Miller's style as staying close with a rival until the last mile before rallying to defeat him. The coach explained Conklin as more of an attack runner.

          At the recent invitational, Conklin finished 19^th overall with a time of 18:12, more than seven seconds behind William Daub. Jacob Heffner (18:25), Milkowich (18:36) and Daub (18:39) also finished in the top 32.

          "That was our last invitational of the season," Neimann said. "I like to call this the beginning of the end of our season."

          In the girls race, the Indians lost 15-49. Carolena Glackin, their top performer, finished seventh overall with a time of 25:35. The coach held Natalia Curley out of the race.

          Curley was Upper Perkiomen's top female finisher in the Penncrest Invitation last weekend. She finished 10^th overall with a time of 21:15. Glackin came in 43^rd (24:03) for team. Theresa Patterson (25:07) finished 51^st. Curley likes to start fast and set the pace in dual meets, according to the coach.

          "Natalia is very competitive," Neimann said. "Sometimes I tell her not to go out too fast. She loves the sport."

          According to the coach, Curley expects to earn a medal at the District One Class AA championship meet later this month.

          Glackin, a co-captain with Curley, has stepped up her game of late, according to the coach. He said the junior usually finishes strong.

          "Carolena is a lot more competitive than she used to be," Neimann said. "She runs at a consistent pace, but has a pretty good kick at the end."