JOSH EDDY

SCHOOL: North Hills.

	Bill Wade, Post-Gazette North Hills' Josh Eddy: is hunting for WPIAL and PIAA titles. Click photo for larger image.

WHO IS HE? A senior and standout cross-country runner.

LAST WEEK: Eddy won the Central Catholic Invitational at Schenley Park Saturday. The invitational includes many of the top runners in the WPIAL, and Eddy ran the 3.1-mile course in 16 minutes, 23 seconds.

CAREER: Eddy has been on the varsity since his freshman year. Last year, he finished sixth in the WPIAL Class AAA championships and seventh at the PIAA meet.

PASSING THE TORCH: North Hills had one of the top distance runners in the state last year in Ian Fitzgerald. But Fitzgerald is at William & Mary, and Eddy has run his way into the elite class.

"It's a little different because I always used to be the one going after the No. 1 guy," Eddy said. "But it's kind of exciting when everyone is coming after you."

Eddy and Fitzgerald used to train with each other.

"I don't think what Josh is doing should come as a shock because he was seventh in the PIAA last year," North Hills coach John Wilkie said. "But he has made significant improvement since last year. He put in a lot of mileage in the summer. This summer, he was running workouts that were very comparable to what Ian was running as a senior."

WRESTLER TO RUNNER: Eddy was a successful wrestler in junior high, but gave up the sport for cross country and track.

"I haven't had too many wrestlers over the years," Wilkie said with a laugh. "I'd like to get a few more, though, because they're usually tough kids."

THAT WINNING FEELING: Eddy is quite used to the taste of winning. North Hills had won 33 dual meets in a row from 2000 -- until Tuesday, when North Allegheny beat North Hills, 26-31.

OH, DEER: Eddy likes spending time outdoors, and not just for running. He is an avid hunter.

"I've gotten a deer four years in a row," Eddy said.

OH, BROTHER: Eddy has three sisters. "They get annoying sometimes, but overall they're alright," he said.

THE FUTURE: Eddy plans on running in college and is being recruited by some Division I schools. Duquesne and Kent State are his top two choices.

-- By Mike White

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CHRISTIN PYLANT

SCHOOL: North Allegheny.

WHO IS SHE? Defender on the field hockey team.

THE PAST WEEK: A senior, Pylant helped the Tigers defeat Shady Side Academy, 6-0, a week ago and Winchester Thurston, 6-1, Tuesday.

Going into the game last night against Vincentian, the Tigers were 4-1 in WPIAL Class AAA and 8-4 overall, including games against out-of-state opponents.

CAREER: This is Pylant's third season with the Tigers varsity. A captain known for her quickness, she doesn't score a lot of goals, but is a fixture on a defense that has enabled the Tigers to register eight shutouts this year.

"Each season, she gets better and better," North Allegheny coach Sue Phillips said. "Christin has a lot of athletic ability and is versatile. She also has a great team concept and leadership skills."

AIMING HIGH: North Allegheny is seeking its seventh consecutive WPIAL championship and ninth in the past 11 years. The Tigers are expected to challenge again when the playoffs begin Nov. 9.

Yet the Tigers have not advanced beyond the first round of the PIAA tournament. Last year, the Tigers lost at that juncture to Wilson.

"I think it's more of a mental thing than anything else with the kids," Phillips said.

GOOD TIMES: She enjoys playing field hockey, but Pylant also revels in the camaraderie she shares with her teammates.

"Everybody is together this year," she said.

Not all field hockey teams from Western Pennsylvania play exclusively within the region, either. North Allegheny has enjoyed the interstate excursions.

"The trips have been fun," Pylant said. "We've been to Chicago and St. Louis."

IN THE MIDDLE: Though she doesn't play for the North Allegheny varsity, Pylant is into softball as well. She plays shortstop for a slo-pitch softball team.

"I played for the school for a while, but made field hockey my serious sport," Pylant said.

FUTURE: Pylant, who has a 3.3 grade-point average, may play field hockey in college. She is interested in travel and tourism.

"I certainly hope she plays in college," Phillips said.

-- By Rick Shrum