There’s more to Twin Valley’s Anthony Engle than gold medals and records
By Julie Pelchar Cohen — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent
The county cross country banquet is filled with speeches every November.
Twin Valley’s Anthony Engle delivered a memorable account last fall of his story as a former quarterback and lacrosse star who found his passion, path and purpose in running.
His impressive speech was clear, structured and mature. It was insightful, reflective and substantive.
It was exactly what one would expect from a young man whose next stop is running cross country and track for the U.S. Naval Academy.
So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Engle refuses to rest on his laurels during his final high school track and field season this spring.
“You’re only as good as your last race,” said Engle, the reigning Berks Conference cross country champion. “As a whole, you’re probably remembered for your last season. I don’t want to be remembered for having some crazy good junior year and not doing anything as a senior.”
Engle returns to the track as Berks County’s runner to watch. He’s the defending county champion in the 3200 and the clear Firing Meet favorite in the 800 and 1600 after finishing second to Schuylkill Valley star Luke Seymour last season.
Engle has finished as high as third in a statewide meet. He took 800-meter bronze with a personal best of 1:54.91 at the state indoor championships in February.
Look for more to come.
“He’s treating this season no differently than any other,” said Raiders coach Brian Holden. “He’s as determined as ever.”
While Engle has proven to be a versalite distance runner, he has chosen to focus his individual specialty on the 1600 this last time around the track.
“Over the winter, my coach and I felt like in the 800 I dropped so much time from last year,” Engle said. “Not that I can’t drop more time, but there’s way more room to improve in the mile.”
While distance runners steadily chip away at their PR’s throughout a season, Engle has already set a personal best in the mile this spring, when he ran a 4:18.30 at the New Balance Pan-Ram Invitational.
Personal bests drive Engle. He is just as motivated by his 3200 relay team’s potential
Twin Valley’s 800-meter specialists of Engle, David Seel, Jaden Brighter and Frankie DiSilvestro are currently ranked No. 1 in the state with their 7:58.47 at last month’s Upper Darby Relays.
The boys are chasing District 3 and PIAA glory as well as their swift school record of 7:55.29.
While some distance runners struggle to sacrifice an individual event to help a relay, the Raiders’ 4×8 run has the potential to be Engle’s crowning achievement – the story that could define his legacy as one of the best athletes in Twin Valley history.
He holds school records in cross country, the indoor and outdoor 800 and 1600 and the indoor 3000. He’s also run on the school record-setting indoor distance medley and 3200 relays.
“The relay will probably be my main focus by the end of the season,” Engle said. “The success of the 4×8 goes hand in hand with the trust we build in each other throughout the year. We run cross country and indoor and outdoor every year and the three seniors on the relay have been together since seventh grade.
“We have built such a tight bond through so much effort and continually putting our bodies on the line. It’s just a deep level of trust and commitment that makes the relay super special.”
Engle’s accomplishments beyond mere numbers and hardware hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“He’s the kindest, hardest working and mentally and physically toughest athlete I’ve ever coached,” Holden said. “He’s literally such a great kid and one of the most well-rounded athletes we’ll ever see.
“He absolutely wants to walk off into the sunset knowing he got those times down as far as possible and that he pushed it as far as he could. With Anthony, it’s not just about the medals, but about pushing himself to his personal limits.”
Which is why one might bet that Engle’s senior season will be the most memorable.
