TSTCA Championship - Meet Preview
BOYS PREVIEW
The race for the individual title here should be hotly contested. The favorite is Sam Snodgrass of South Fayette, who picked up a win at the Red, White & Blue Classic earlier this season and placed second at the PIAA Foundation Invitational.
Now Snodgrass will look for another win, but he'll be challenged. Greensburg Salem's Mark Brown and Cameron Binda have had strong seasons to date. Brown won at Marty Uher and then took fifth at both Red, White & Blue and Foundation. Binda was third at Red, White & Blue and sixth at Foundation. Both should put themselves in the mix and try to work together.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic's Sam Gatti is worth watching for, too. He won at Kiski and was second at Sharpsville. Gatti should put himself in amongst the leaders.
Peters Township's Zach Marmol and Belle Vernon's Brett Seich are among the others runners that will try to get inside the top five on Saturday.
The team race figures to be closely contested with Greensburg Salem, Upper Saint Clair, Pittsburgh Central Catholic, and South Fayette all expected to be in the mix.
GIRLS PREVIEW
The girls' race won't feature PA#2 Savannah Shaw of Upper Saint Clair, but there are plenty of talented WPIAL runners looking to make a strong statements before the district meet later this month.
The one to beat may be Brownsville Area's Gionna Quarzo. She was a medalist on the track this past spring in the 3200 meters. She's only raced once this fall at an invite---early September's Mary Uher meet at Cal U. If healthy, she could be in for a big day.
Baldwin's Macy Hale and Upper Saint Clair's Claire Hoffman will be ones to watch. Both went sub-20 earlier this season at the Red, White & Blue Classic. Belle Vernon's Grace Henderson, Canon-McMilan's Stephanie Keelon and Kiski Area's Kierra Shreffler are among the others to keep an eye on.
In the team battle, even without Shaw, Upper Saint Clair could walk away as champs. But Greensburg Salem, Peters Township, and Hempfield Area should all be in the mix. as well.