LUCAS ZARZECZNY

SCHOOL: Avonworth.

WHO IS HE? One of the premier cross country runners in the WPIAL.

THE PAST WEEK: A senior, Zarzeczny won the boys' division in the Red, White & Blue meet Saturday in Schenley Park. His time of 15 minutes, 13 seconds was one second better than the runner-up, Scott Van Kooten of Central Catholic. Van Kooten is the reigning WPIAL Class AAA champion and Zarzeczny competes in AA, yet all boys ran in one race Saturday. In second with less than 50 yards to go, Zarzeczny surged and overtook Van Kooten.

CAREER: This is Zarzeczny's fourth year with the varsity. He finished second in the WPIAL and PIAA Class AA meets last year.

SMALL FEET LEAD TO BIG FEATS: Zarzeczny's running career began when he was 5 years old, when he accompanied his jogging parents.

OTHER SPORT: Distance running is Zarzeczny's specialty during the spring as well. He competes in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races for the Avonworth/Northgate track team. (Those schools have a cooperative agreement in that sport, and the team competes in AAA.)

Zarzeczny was second in both events at the WPIAL meet in May. He took third in the 1,600 at the PIAA championships, but declined to run the 3,200 there.

FUTURE: Zarzeczny plans to run cross country and track in college. He has attracted a number of suitors, but will choose from among William & Mary, Notre Dame, Syracuse, American and Iona.

-- By Rick Shrum

MACKENZIE CREEHAN

SCHOOL: Peters Township.

WHO IS SHE? A junior striker who has turned into a big goal scorer on the Indians girls' soccer team.

THE PAST WEEK: Creehan had two goals in a 6-2 victory against Thomas Jefferson Monday. She also had two in a 6-1 victory against Quaker Valley Friday.

SEASON: Creehan is one of the leading scorers in the WPIAL with 11 goals. She has scored at least two goals in five games for Peters Township, the Post-Gazette's No. 3-ranked Class AAA team.

GOAL ORIENTED: Creehan scored 19 goals in 25 games last season. She should surpass that total by midseason.

"Sometimes roles can get reversed in a year," Peters Township coach Terry Adams said. "Last year, we had Ali Forbaich as our top goal scorer. Mackenzie took a back seat somewhat in goals, but she was our leader in assists. This year, it's the other way around. People are taking notice of Ali, marking her and double-teaming her. But they're finding out they shouldn't leave Mackenzie alone."

ONLY SOCCER: Creehan kicked aside other sports for soccer. "I used to play basketball until high school, and that was a lot of fun," she said. "I used to also play other things. But everything always seemed to interfere with soccer, and I wanted to make soccer No. 1."

SOCCER FAMILY: Creehan has two younger sisters and a brother -- and all three play soccer. "My parents didn't play. I guess I started the trend in my family," Creehan said. Away from soccer, Creehan is an honors student who also likes to ski.

-- By Mike White