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Team:
Emmaus is the reigning champion and they return four runners from that championship team which is going for three in a row. However, unlike the 2008 season, 2009 will have more competition for the team championship. Emmaus returns the Faust triplets and Kelsey Coates who all have personal XC bests under 19:45, which will still give this group a chance at a three peat. Even with all that experience, several teams will give them their best shot in Hershey.
North Penn returns five very solid girls who finished 5th at states last season. Christy Cohick (Right) and Heather Selheimer had breakthrough track seasons and will be a tough 1-2 combination. With four girls running under 5:30 for 1600 meters last season, this team will match up very well with the champions and will give them all they can handle.
Downingtown East returns the best 1-5 pack in 2009, with their personal XC bests being separated by only 33 seconds, and all of them scored at the state meet last season. Corinne Lillis is their top returning cross country runner (19:07 XC), and she will get help from teammate Taylor Carcella, who broke out during track last season (2:17.15 800/5:13.51 1600). This group will make a strong run for the podium and has a pack that can break up the champions.
Council Rock North has five runners under twenty minutes coming back, and they have an individual top 5 contender in Lindsay Rheiner (10th at Hershey) to provide the low team points. Senior Bethanie Kruman is also a threat to be a top runner in the team scoring with her 2:16 800/5:01 1600 speed. The improvement of their 3-5 runners to accompany their strong 1-2 will play a major factor in the title race.
Norwin returns after a third place finish in 2008 with six of their top seven returning, and an emerging Jenna Gigliotti who has an 11:00 3200 from track season, and Jenna Kuhn, who ran a 5:16 1600 in 2009. Shelby Haitz is their number two runner with a 2:12 800 meters from the spring season. Autumn Greba has run 2:20 for 800 meters to help the depth of the team after losing their top runner to graduation. A big track season can potentially turn into a top two finish for Norwin in 2009.
Other teams to keep an eye on are Liberty with returning individual champion Jess Cygan and four other girls under 20:10 who can break into the top five. Strath Haven will look to return to the state meet with a strong top three coming back and some strong newcomers who can make an immediate impact in 2009. William Tennant brings a strong 1-2 combination in Anne Areias and Jackie Conklin and six girls under 20:02 and nine under 21:02. They may be the deepest team in PA and may have the best chance at displacing scoring runners for other teams. Cumberland Valley rounds out the contending teams with four under 20 minutes and six under 20:30 led by Leigha Anderson, (10:47 3200/5:01 1600/18:39 XC).
Individuals:
Jess Cygan (Left) is the favorite to repeat as individual champion. She won the title last year in 18:47, but has a personal best of 17:44, one of only two girls to break 18 minutes in 2008. After a strong track season (5:01/10:47 1600/3200 double) she enters the season as the top gun in PA.
Individuals who will be looking to dethrone the champion include Elizabeth Simpson (Below) of Boyertown, who was the only other girl to break 18 minutes last season and was 12th overall at Hershey. She has been a top runner in PA for the past two seasons and looks to maintain her position as one of the best in PA. Leigha Anderson of Cumberland Valley is the top returner from the outdoor 3200 and was 11th in Hershey last season and has similar track personal bests as Cygan. Heather Selheimer of North Penn had a break out track season in 2009 (2:15/5:03 800/1600 double) and she has run 18:43 in cross country. Her speed can make her a threat to the top 5 in 2009.
Other individuals looking to break into the top 10 include Elaina Balouris of Hampton (18:23 XC, 3rd at states in 2008), Jenna Gigliotti of Norwin (18:22 XC, 5th at states in 2008), Chloe Schmidt of State College (18:51 XC, 4:57 1600, 2:11 800) who may have the best kick out of anyone in PA, Kayla Keddal of Peters (18:41 XC, 6th in Hershey), Christy Cohick of North Penn (18:24 XC), Mary Jo Jakubek of Greater Latrobe (18:44 XC, 8th in Hershey), and Lindsay Rheiner of Council Rock North (18:15 XC).
