FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29 - BETHLEHEM, PA -- They may have given up the tempting "Dip" of Hereford to attend the Paul Short Run, but now they become Maryland's 2nd - 5th members of the Milesplit National Elite.
Senior Cara Harrison of Quince Orchard finished fourth in the High School Girls race in a time of 18:33 - good enough to beat Kristen Malloy's 18:46.70 at Barnhardt and claim the fastest 5K time recorded thus far this season in the state of Maryland. Harrison also enters Milesplit's National 5K Elite List at #23.
Junior Emma Eckerstrom of Northwest was right behind in 18:35 as she becomes #27 on the national list. Junior Kathy Aherne of Northwest ran the best race of her high school career, breaking 20:00 for the first time in 18:47, and beating Winston Churchill's Louise Hanallah, who finished in 18:54. Aherne's performance recoginizes her as a force to be reckoned with this season in the state of Maryland, let alone Montgomery County. Aherne's surpising efforts launch her to #44 on the Natl. Elite List, Hanallah to #50.
Other elite performances were achieved by Becca Stinner of Northwest (19:25), Maryam Fikri of Winston Churchill (19:48) and Aimee Moores of Quince Orchard (19:57), along with six other girls from Northwest, Quince Orchard and Winston Churchill.
Winston Churchill was Maryland's top-placing team, finishing ninth overall.
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The Quince Orchard boys managed a five point lead over PA's Germantown Friends to conquer a field of 47 teams. The Montgomery County team sent 9 runners to Paul Short, and they ran 9 sub-18:00 times, a feat not too many schools can say they have achieved. Junior Neal Darmody (16:14) and senior Greg Bove (16:16) lead the team, finishing 14th and 20th. Quince Orchard are currently ranked 9th in the Southeast Nike Team Nationals Rankings.
Milesplit Network-Wide Girls CC 5000 Meter Run Rankings