Rapid Rundowns
A quick glance at some of the weekend's meets!
A 2.3 mile course at Falling Spring Elementary, Enos Yeager should bring together some big names in central PA XC for a nice start to the season. Last year, it was home to the debut of Noah Affolder, the eventual PIAA AAA state champ and Taryn Parks, the eventual PIAA AA state champ.
This season, Carlisle, now led by Jack Wisner is back in the field. The girls race should feature some good competition. Chambersburg will be without Abby Yourkavitch, but Greencastle-Antrim and Northern, teams with some solid frontrunners will be there. G-S's Parks will be favored, but Northern's Marlee Starliper should give her a good run.
Moravian Academy produced a great matchup last fall at the season-opening Lions Invitational. In a battle to the line, Abington Heights' Katie Dammer outkicked Liberty's Rasia Kochmaruk for the win by just .10. Fast forward to this season, Kochmaruk has graduated, but Dammer is expected to open up at Lions again. Dammer, a senior, wound up sixth at the XC state meet in AAA and second this past spring on the track in the 1600 meters, running 4:48.
Always a good start to the season for some top individuals and teams, Oakbourne was a good early season tune-up for a number of standouts last season. This year should feature some strong teams again. In this off-format race, varsity squads are comprised of two two-runner teams. One runner starts and completes a mile before handing off to the second runner, who runs and mile and hands off to the first runner, who repeats that process.
Some of the top teams that competed last season were West Chester Henderson, Downingtown West, Germantown Friends, Unionville, JP McCaskey, Rustin, and Avon Grove.
An early-season clash will go down in Delco on Friday. Msgr. Bonner & Abp. Prendergast will be the favorite to take both the girls and boys titles at Upper Darby. The Upper Darby girls could supply a decent challenge to MBAP in the girls' race. Interboro and Marple Newtown are also entered.
As far as individuals are concerned, MBAP's Anthony Harper will be the strong favorite to take the title, while MBAP's Jenna Rastatter and Sam Gliwa will go for the girls' win. Upper Darby's Wilbertrice Boduo and Marple Newtown's Donna Holt could also be in the mix.