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By Phil Grove
Year No. 2 of three classifications for cross country might be as historic as the one that ushered in the new era last year. The key figure – Elk County Catholic’s Kennedy Weisner – has become one of Pennsylvania’s most decorated distance runners and looks primed to collect another state title. And this year with her time at her side, she'll count as a single point.
Girls – Teams
Last week’s District 2 meet pitted the top teams in the state, and No. 2 (Holy Cross) had the better grouping to upend No. 1 (and defending state champion Elk Lake). Holy Cross went 1-2-3 and won by 16 points over Elk Lake, which had a 1-5 spread of just 50 seconds.
Elk Lake has recent history on its side as the Warriors were three points shy of the AA title in 2011 before winning their debut in Class A last year by 34 points. West Middlesex, last year’s No. 2 team, heads to Hershey as the newly crowned District 10 champion.
Central Cambria also will have something to say about who is crowned the 2013 champion. Third last year, the Red Devils were easy winners in District 6 with 35 points.
Girls - Individuals
In 2012, Kennedy Weisner stormed to her first statewide harrier title after finishing second in both her freshman and sophomore seasons. She was 20 seconds ahead after the opening mile at Parkview and her final margin of victory was 1:13. Currently ranked No. 15 in the country, the senior won the District 9 title and PTXC-5, in addition to being the first across the line in the prestigious Reebok Manhattan and McQuaid invitationals, where she set the course record in 2012.
On the clock thus far in 2013, Marianne Abdalah of Vincentian Academy is only a fraction of a second behind Weisner. The freshman turned in a strong performance at the Red, White & Blue Classic to open her season. Runaway victories followed at the PIAA Foundation Invitational and the WPIAL (District 7) meet.
The rest of the field appears to be running for third place as only 10 medalists from a year ago were lost to graduation.
District Champs
I. 1 Maddison Landis, So 20:05 6:28 Christopher Dock
II. 1 Tess Kearns, Jr 19:37 Holy Cross
III. 1 Leigha Martin, Fr 9:42 20:02 6:28 Veritas Academy
IV. 1 Katelin Purdy, Jr 20:30 6:37 Towanda
V. 1 Annalee Tokarsky Windber 21:10
VI. 1 413 Arlee Simendinger Penn Cambria 19:27.7
VII. 1 Marianne Abdalah, Fr 18:20 5:55 Vincentian Academy
VIII. No A Teams
IX. 1 Weisner, Kennedy 12 Elk County Catholic 19:21.50
X. 1 Reilly Walsh, Jr 2:58 6:00 12:41 19:37 6:19 Cambridge Springs
XI. 1 McKayla Lally, Fr 21:13 6:50 Pine Grove
XII. 1 Ashworth, Claudia 11 Masterman 20:57.24
Returning Medalists
1 1 Kennedy Weisner, Jr 5:22 11:29 18:29 5:57 Elk County Catholic (
4 3 Jenny Vanetten, So 5:53 12:29 19:50 6:24 Elk Lake (2)
7 6 Kristen White, Fr 5:51 12:25 19:57 6:26 West Middlesex (10)
11 Nicole Kobylanski, So 5:52 12:32 20:11 6:30 Mid Valley (2)
12 Lydia Werner, Fr 6:03 12:41 20:12 6:31 Northeast Bradford -4
13 7 Elizabeth Trowbridge, Jr 5:57 12:40 20:19 6:33 Elk Lake (2)
14 Rachel Guyer, So 5:57 12:41 20:20 6:33 Ridgway (9)
15 8 Victoria Dippold, So 5:58 12:39 20:26 6:35 Elk County Catholic (
16 Olivia Mamula, Jr 6:01 12:47 20:28 6:36 Cambridge Spngs (10)
17 Reilly Walsh, So 6:02 12:49 20:29 6:36 Cambridge Spngs (10)
18 Caroline DeFrank, Jr 5:55 12:42 20:31 6:37 Bishop Canevin (7)
20 9 Arlee Simendinger, So 5:59 12:46 20:33 6:38 Penn Cambria (6)
23 Kristin Boyer, So 6:05 12:51 20:36 6:39 Kane Area (9)
24 Heather Paynter, So 6:06 12:52 20:36 6:39 Homer-Center (6)
25 10 Alexa Botelho, Jr 5:57 12:45 20:38 6:39 New Hope-Solebury (1)
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