PIAA State Championships 2009

  Photo courtesy: John Olson, South Carolina Runner's  

AAA Champs - West Chester Henderson

In winning an individual title at the WPIAL cross country championship, Jenna Gigliotti credited her teammates.

The toughest Pennsylvania league in boys high school cross country has to be the Ches-Mont. Year in and year out, the two top programs in the league battle each other for supremacy - with both going on to do well at the District 1 Championships, and ultimately, the PIAA State Championships.

Top returner Will Kellar leads a deep Henderson as a strong favorite for 2009. But 2008 runner-up LaSalle could have what it takes to challenge for the top. Will Perk Valley's Vince Perozze make it two in a row for the school?

Areias has helped William Tennent improve each season of her career.

West Chester Henderson is the strong favorite to end the two year reign of champions North Penn.

North Penn senior Brad Miles is fully healthy and in great shape to achieve goal of PIAA championship

Defending champs Elk Lake returns, but so does the team that they nipped by two points, York Suburban. Alex Beardsley is the top individual returner.

Emmaus is the reigning champion and they return four runners from that championship team which is going for three in a row. Jess Cygan is the favorite to repeat as individual champion.

The Norwin High school girls enjoyed a fine 2008 cross-country season.

Two time defending state champion Central Cambria surprised many last year by regaining the title in close fashion in their first year without two-time Foot Locker all-American Carly Seymour. Individually, many familiar faces return in 2009, as only nine of the top twenty-five finishers last season were seniors.