For the past few years, Ethan Vaughan has run alongside some of the best cross country athletes Fox Chapel Area has produced – Christian Fitch, Jack Lorence, and, most recently, Rowan Gwin. Now in his senior year, Ethan is creating his own legacy, not just competing with their school records but also setting a few of his own.
He was a state qualifier and a highly competitive racer before he entered the 18th PIAA Foundation meet, but it was there that he truly established himself as an elite runner. The meet, held in Hershey, draws top talent from across Pennsylvania. In the Foxes’ PIAA Class 3A division alone, more than 260 male athletes vied for top honors.
“It was nice to get back there,” says Ethan, who was unable to race there last season due to a stress fracture but hoped for a top-20 finish in 2024.
The Foundation course is deceptively difficult, filled with rolling hills, and has a particularly long, hard hill at the half-mile mark. However, Ethan’s familiarity with the course from running it in states in his sophomore year, his strength in traversing hills, and his strong kick at the finish worked in his favor that day.
The Race
Even on a hot day for racing, and with last-minute course adjustments, Ethan and fellow senior David Black delivered performances that will go down in the history books. Ethan crossed the finish line in 16:12, the fastest time among all WPIAL racers, and placed seventh overall. The very thin margins among the top 10 finishers showed just how competitive the field was, offering a preview of how tight the PIAA cross country championships may be. States are held on the same Hershey course.
According to coach Tom Moul, if Ethan stays healthy and continues on his current trajectory, he could be a legitimate contender for a top medal in the postseason. Injuries have been a concern throughout his career, but as his recent results demonstrate, Ethan is in top form now.
David also had an outstanding race. With a time of 16:37, he finished as the WPIAL runner-up and placed 13th overall.
“Ethan and David both recorded our best-ever finishes in the eight years we have been going to the Foundation meet,” confirms coach Moul.
Ethan’s Journey
Even before this last meet, Ethan had already had a strong start to his senior season. He won an individual gold medal at the season-opener, the Gateway Invitational, where the squad also claimed the team title. Two weeks later at the Kiski Invitational, Ethan broke the course record he set last year and led the Foxes to another team victory. Still, Ethan admits the Hershey course has challenged him in the past.
“The biggest thing I needed to change (for Hershey) was my strategy about how I approached the start of the race because of how the course is designed and the way it funnels,” Ethan explains. “The past few times I have raced there I have gotten stuck in the back at the beginning of the race.”
This year, he executed his plan perfectly.
“In my opinion, the course itself has not been too bad; I think it’s just been the competition there that just makes it seem harder,” says Ethan. “I did get out really fast this time and was able to secure a top-10 spot before it funneled down. The competition was good, and the group I was running with was really fast.”
Coach Moul jokes, “I’ve been telling him that for years to get our fast! Ethan has such a smooth and natural stride, and I think it was just a maturity thing for him to realize he could start fast, pace himself, and still have enough energy at the end.”
Beyond his racing talents, Ethan has taken on a leadership role this year.
“It makes a big difference when your No. 1 runner is also a leader and sets the tone for the rest of the team,” coach Moul adds.
David’s Outlook
David went into the Foundation meet hoping for a top 30 finish, so he was surprised and pleased with how things turned out. “It’s a good sign for the rest of the season,” he says.
Before the race, coach Moul had a frank conversation with David about this goal of medaling at the state championships.
“I told him that he had to medal at Foundation if that was his goal, so I’m glad to see that happened,” says the coach.
David attributes part of his success that day to feeling comfortable on the course for the first time. He’d raced on it several times before, including for last season’s state championship when a torrential downpour and slipping on mud was par for the day.
“I think part of that was just changing my mindset and remembering what parts of the course felt the most difficult when I ran it during states last year,” David explains. “The course was somewhat modified from past years, but I knew what to expect.”
Looking Ahead
However, everything at the Foundation meet wasn’t just about these two accomplished runners. The team, as a whole, placed second among the WPIAL squads and was sixth overall.