Photo by Phil Grove
PIAA Foundation Invitational - Girls' Gold Race (3A) Preview
Usually the first time we see the state's top eight teams all in one race, it's the state championship. But in a rare moment Saturday, we will get that special matchup as the top eight ranked teams in the latest Flo50 team rankings will line up at the start.
PA#1 Fox Chapel Area returns to the line Saturday. FCA won in big fashion at the Red, White & Blue Classic, displaying some incredible depth that shot them to the top spot. Led by Caelen Miller, along with Annika Urban, Sarena Seeger, and Grace Sisson, Fox Chapel put four in the top 13 at Schenley Park. The field is deeper on Saturday, but this squad looks up to the task.
Oakland Catholic (PA#2) had just a 23 second 1-5 gap at that same Red, White, and Blue Classic. If that group can move up, Oakland will be an even more dangerous squad as a pack. PA#3 Manheim Township also had a solid gap of 48 seconds, in their romping win at Ben Bloser over the weekend. Samantha Side had a strong meet and will look to lead MT into Saturday.
Cardinal O'Hara, the defending AAA state champs, proved they are capable of keeping the state crown in house after last weekend. Elizabeth and Eleanor Mancini took second and third at Briarwood. They're arguably the state's best 1-2 punches and should be in the mix for the win on Saturday. PA#4 O'Hara should matchup well.
State College Area (PA#5), Owen J. Roberts (PA#6), North Allegheny (PA#7) and Central Bucks West (PA#8) are also in this jam-packed field. All these teams appear anxious to make a big statement Saturday. In a meet like this, similar to states, every place and every point will be very crucial. West Chester Henderson, West Chester East, Spring Ford, Perkiomen Valley, Central Bucks East, Council Rock South, and Seneca Valley are others with a shot of cracking the state top 10 by the end of Saturday.
Individually, things should heat up in the Gold Race. After an upset win at Red, White & Blue, Upper Saint Clair's Savannah Shaw (PA#5) will go for another big win on Saturday. She beat out North Allegheny's Clara Savchik (PA#2), who took second at that meet before placing third at Boardman last week. Savchik is the defending Gold Race champ and will surely want to prove she is still the state's top runner. These two WPIAL rivals will be one of the main matchups worth watching for.
They're not the only two, though. The Mancini sisters should get in the mix after strong races in Philadelphia this past weekend. Souderton's Emily Bonaventure is off to a hot start, placing second at PTXC9 and then winning her home invite. Fox Chapel's Miller will look to get in the mix, too.
Stroudsburg's Amy Conboy will likely make her invite debut this weekend. She was 15th at states last year. Pine Grove's Christina DiFalco (a 1A runner competing in the Gold Race), Oakland Catholic's Hannah Schupansky, OJR's Mary Bernotas, West Chester East's Allyson Clarke, Spring Ford's Gabriella Bamford, and North Allegheny's Hannah Lindgren are also part of this loaded field. There's plenty room for others to shine on the big stage come this weekend.
It's still too early, even after Saturday, to make any definitive statements over who the top team and individual in PA is, but the Gold Race will give us a much clearer picture.
Watch highlights from last year's race: