St. Augustine’s unlikely runner still shines
Phil Fanz is an unlikely cross-country star.
The St. Augustine Prep senior doesn't like distance running all that much. He would prefer to be a sprinter.
But Fanz has more endurance than speed. The Atco resident won the boys' individual title Saturday at the Robert Kiessling Memorial Cross Country Meet at Delsea High School, the unofficial Non-Public South Jersey championship.
Fanz, whose winning time was 16 minutes, six seconds, hopes to run well at the Non-Public A state championships Saturday, and qualify for the Meet of Champions on Nov. 21.
Question: What do you like best about distance running?
Answer: To be honest, it's really not something that I enjoy that much. It's just something that I'm decent at. I'd rather be a sprinter.
Q: When did you do start running cross country?
A: I went out for the team my freshman year, just to see if I was any good. I was more of a baseball player growing up but I didn't really have a fall sport. I went out for cross country and I was pretty good at it right away.
Q: You didn't run in middle school?
A: No. My dad (Ed, the St. Augustine coach) was a runner but I was into baseball. I used to win the mile in gym class but that was no big deal because half the people would walk anyway.
Q: What are your plans for next year?
A: I'm going to college but I'm still not sure where. I'm still looking around.
Q: Do you know what you want to study?
A: Engineering. I'm kind of a math and science guy so that's something that would fit me well.
Q: What kind of music do you listen to?
A: Pretty much everything. There's nothing I really don't like.
Q: Even country?
A: Not that much but I like Taylor Swift. She's the exception.
Q: What's your favorite TV show?
A: I love "Two-and-a-half men." That's a great show.
Q: Got a favorite subject in school?
A: Math. It's just something that I understand.
Q: What are your thoughts about the next two weekends of the cross country season?
A: I'm feeling great going into states. I've been running pretty well and I'm pretty healthy, and that's so important this time of the year. I hope I can do pretty well.
THREE STARS FROM LAST WEEK
1. Sophomore Grace Steicher had 19 assists as Cherokee advanced to the quarterfinals of the state Group 4 girls' volleyball tournament with a 2-0 (25-18, 25-17) victory over Eastern.2. Bishop Eustace sophomore Holly Bischof won the girls' individual race in a time of 18 minutes, 43 seconds at the South Jersey Non-Public cross country championships.
3. Lindsay Hatch scored two goals as fifth-seeded Washington Township beat top-seeded Southern, 5-0, in the semifinals of the South Jersey Group 4 field hockey tournament.
THREE TIPS ON THIS WEEK
1. Tri-County contender Clearview takes its shot at the title in girls' soccer as the Pioneers visit Olympic American power and two-time defending state champion Lenape in the semifinals of the South Jersey Group 4 tournament at 2 p.m., Monday.2. It's a Colonial Conference girls' soccer showcase Monday in the semifinals of the South Jersey Group 2 tournament as West Deptford plays at Haddonfield at 2 p.m., and Haddon Heights plays at Haddon Township at 4 p.m.
3. The state's top cross country runners converge at the annual championships Saturday morning at Holmdel.
SUPER SEVEN POWER RANKINGS
1. Eastern field hockey (21-2): Vikings have that familiar focused look. They've outscored three tournament opponents by 30-0 as a loaded senior class led by Kelsey Mitchell and Melanie Dawson is squeezing the most out of their final days in Cardinal and Navy.2. Haddonfield girls' tennis (32-0): Veteran coach Jeff Holman, one of South Jersey sports' best people, already is nervous about next year's challenge matches.
3. Haddonfield boys' cross country (10-0): Bulldogs looked primed in Saturday's sectional finals at Delsea. They went 1-2-4-5 in the Group 2 race as Jon Vitez, Colin Baker, Matt Nussbaum and Ben Potts all covered the course in 16 minutes, 10 seconds or faster.
4. Lenape girls' soccer (19-1): Since that 1-0 loss to Paul VI on Sept. 16, the Indians have won 16 in a row, outscoring opponents, 56-8. Since 2007, this team is an astounding 50-0 in Olympic American, South Jersey Coaches tournament and Group 4 state tournament play.
5. Rancocas Valley boys' soccer (18-2-3): Living dangerously is just fine by the Red Devils. Over the last nine games, they've gone 8-0-1, winning five times by one goal and advancing another time on penalty kicks.
6. Williamstown football (8-0): This is it. Braves host a dangerous Toms River North team Friday night with the chance to win the program's first tournament game and fully establish their legitimacy as a South Jersey Group 4 power.
7. Cherokee football (8-0): South Jersey Group 4 is loaded but the road to the title runs across that new artificial turf in the big bowl in Marlton.
Under consideration: St. Augustine Prep boys' soccer, Delsea football, Egg Harbor Township football, Paul VI girls' soccer, Gloucester Catholic girls' soccer, Seneca girls' cross country.
Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223 or panastasia@phillynews.com
