Paul Short Run - Girls' Brown Race Preview
INDIVIDUALS
The Brown Race on the girls side is packed with talent, as a number of girls will be fighting for spots within the top 10. With some great weather expected, look for these times to be very fast on Friday.
The favorite is Tatnall's Keelin Hays. Coming up from Delaware, Hays is an NXN qualifier and reigning state champ from last year. She won at Oberod last week and will look to run away with another victory this week. She'll also look to keep the Brown Race individual crown in-state. Padua's Lydia Olivere (racing at Carlisle this week) won last year. Can Hays chase the 17:30 barrier?
There's a big PA contingent that will be toeing the line. Five top 25-ranked girls from the home state will be there as well as a number of girls looking to break into the top 25. At the top is Abington Heights' Katie Dammer. She hasn't raced in an invite since September 1's Lions Invitational, which she won. Look for Dammer to chase the 18 minute barrier on Friday.
Others from PA include Conestoga's Dominique Shultz (PA#13), Souderton's Emily Bonaventure (PA#14), and Cocalico's Jamie Zamrin (PA#15), and Marian Catholic's Tina Capparell (PA#18). That should be an interesting battle between those girls as they look to make big statements leading into October.
Look out, as well for the Friends' Central duo of Rebecca Wusinich (winner at the George School) and Gabrielle Wilkinson. Stroudsburg's Amy Conboy, Holy Cross's Lexi Walsh, Loyalsock's Isabel Sagar, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic's Rylee Kopchak, and OJR's Mary Bernotas are also among the others that should be hunting for top ten spots and sub-18:30 times.
TEAMS
On the team side of things, the heavy favorites are the US#7 girls from Centerville (OH). Led by Grace Kilroy, who should compete for a a top five spot, Centerville has dominated every meet they've entered so far this season. Look for those black singlets to be crowded among the top 20 on Friday,
After that, the out-of-state likes of Tatnall (DE), Bay Shore (NY), and Morgantown (WV) will look to get inside the top five. The top-ranked PA squad hails from Owen J. Roberts (PA#3), which made a big impact placing third at the PIAA Foundation Invitational on Saturday.
PA#10 Governor Mifflin, Conestoga, Strath Haven, Scranton Preparatory, Lee-Davis (VA), Saranac (NY) are among the other teams that should be in the mix. The field is deep and the times will be fast on Friday, so stayed tuned!