Cliff Robbins Invitational - Meet Preview
Girls' Preview
Mia Bellucci, one of the state's top AA runners, hopes to start her season off on the right foot on Saturday. The reigning District 2 Class AA champion and 11th place state finisher will be the strong favorite to win in Dallas this weekend. Look for her Scranton Preparatory teammates Adiya Golden, Abby Bowen, and Kate Welby to compete for high finishes inside the top five, as well.
Montrose's Hannah Perkins raced sparingly last season, but she'll look to open things up well this weekend. She enters as the defending champion at this meet, but only raced at Cliff Robbins and McQuaid last year. Dallas' Megan Borton, third in D2-AA last year, will look for a strong season debut as well. Her teammate Kaitlyn Hodakowski will also be in the mix.
Scranton Prep is the squad to beat in the team race, but Dallas and Lake Lehman could give Prep a good run for its money.
Boys' Preview
Expect a good race between some of District 2's best on Saturday. Mitchell Rome of Dallas, who was third at Cliff Robbins last year and the top returner, will be the one to beat. After a 12th place finish at states last year, Rome, who has a great pedigree, will be one to watch this fall.
He'll be challenged by Montrose's Liam Mead. He was eighth at Cliff Robbins last year, and closed out his season well, taking third in D2-A and sixth in Class A at states. Holy Redeemer's Bryce Zapusek and Lukas Volpetti, along with Weatherly Area's Scott Zoscin will also be in the mix for high finishes. Look out, too, for Scranton Prep's Nicholas Gershey and Scranton's Josh Christiansen.
Montrose, which claimed the win last year, will go for the repeat in the team race. Holy Redeemer will have the best shot of knocking off the defending champs. Hazleton Area, Lakeland, and Dallas will look to contend as well.