D7-AAA Girls - Individuals Breakdown
- Class AAA Individuals Rankings
- State Qualifying Spots For Non-Team Individuals: 15
- 2016 Champion: Clara Savchik (North Allegheny) - 18:00
Last fall saw North Allegheny's Clara Savchik go from a very solid runner to one of the state's best we've seen in recent memory. Despite battling some lingering injuries, Savchik rolled to wins at Foundation, TSTCAs, WPIALs, and then very nearly the state championship. In a sprint to the finish, Savchik narrowly took second to Downingtown West's Aislinn Devlin, the state champ.
In the spring, Savchik, who is entering her senior season, ran 10:21.65 for 3200 meters to win the AAA state title on the track, just missing the meet record. Last year, Savchik opted to rest after states rather than pursuing a nationals spot. This season, Savchik is the odds-on favorite to win the state title, but expect her to make a run for a regional individual crown and make a big splash on the national scene.
There's a wealth of talent after Savchik, though, and many will be chasing some of the 25 medals at the state meet. Butler's Maggie Welty had a terrific season last fall. She peaked at the perfect time to place 12th at states, running sub-19. Upper Saint Clair's Savannah Shaw was 14th at states last season. Look for both Welty and Shaw--both seniors---to be in the conversation for very high finishes at the state meet.
Photo by Don Rich
Another returning state medalist is Fox Chapel Area's Sarena Seeger, who was tenth at states, but ran the best race of her career at states to place 17th. Now a junior, we'll see if she can ride that momentum to a top ten finish. Her teammate Annika Urban was ninth at districts last season, and the pair should make up a strong 1-2 punch for FCA.
Oakland Catholic will be without 2016 WPIAL runner-up Lauren Finikiotis, but the team will be in the mix for the state crown once again. OC will be led by Hannah Schupansky. The rising junior was 35th at states last year, but really made some noise on the track, even defeating Savchik for the WPIAL 3200 meter title in the spring. Her teammate Megan Nagy should be close to her. Nagy was just a place behind Schupansky at WPIALs. Kathryn Aldrich and Teresa Davison are also back from the top 15 in the district.
Greater Latrobe's Megan Cawoski was seventh in the district and 31st in the state last fall. She will be a factor once again.
While a lot of focus will be on Savchik this season, look for NA's Hannah Lindgren to have a strong season. She was 12th in the district and 50th in the state last year as just a freshman and the Tigers will look to her to be a solid #2.
Fox Chapel's Brooke Krally and Caelen Miller, McKeesport's Macayle Wade, Seneca Valley's Megan Aaron are part of a big group of talented returners that will be factors in not only District 7, but the state as a whole.