Stars Will Collide At Hershey: PIAA Foundation Preview


Girls' White (A) Race Preview - PIAA Foundation Invitational

Race Time: 9:00 A.M.

The White Race will feature a showdown between the top two 1A teams in the state, with each looking to get an early-season leg up on the competition.

In one corner, there's Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy, who were second at states last year after winning two straight 1A state crowns. SJCA has been battle-tested this season already and looks ready to roll. Led by a strong duo of Sera Mazza and Julia Cusatis, who will each compete for the individual top spot on Saturday, as well, SJCA will be a team to watch.

In the other corner is Vincentian Academy, the defending meet champions (and state third place finishers). Vincentian won the 1A team competition at the Red, White & Blue Classic .a few weeks ago. Tara Lucot and Marissa Canzian are a talented top two that will also be in the mix for top five finishes.

A number of other 1A squads will be looking to make an early statement. District 2 powers Holy Cross and Elk Lake should be up there. The same goes for Masterman, Calvary Christian Academy, Camp Hill, and Our Lady of Sacred Heart.


Individually, we can expect a close one.The aforementioned Mazza won a state title in 1A two years ago. Surely, the senior will contend for the win here. Haley Hamilton of OLSH will be strong; she was seventh at states last year. Cusatis, Lucot, Camp Hill's Laura Sakol, and Calvary Christian's Abigail Brown will be in contention, too.

The one to beat, however, may be Northern Lehigh's Reagan Pender. The junior has earned two runner-up finishes this year -- one at Moravian Academy to Olivia Haas, and another at DeSales to Christina DiFalco. She'll be hungry for her first win on Saturday. Watch for an intense race this weekend to start the day off.