District 2 has controlled the class A division in its brief history. In 2013, the contenders from district 2 have missed out on some critical meets due to unusual heat at the Paul Short Run in early October. From late September until their district championship race last Wednesday, several district 2 teams went a few weeks without a big competition to help keep their runner sharp. District came and went and the top teams advanced to the state finals. But how will their legs respond to the lack of racing and the demands of the Hershey state course?
The class A team championship is staying in district 2, but it was not maintained by defending champions Elk Lake. The title went to Holy Cross, who led from beginning to end to defeat their district rivals and district 6 champions Central Cambria 64-99-128. Holy Cross had their leading trio of Tess Kearns, Mackenzie Greenfield and Zoe Haggerty finish in the top seven team places to put it out of reach. Elk Lake had four in the top 21 team places to keep it close, while Central Cambria had three freshmen in the top 20. The new champions credit the constant competition from Elk Lake for keeping them motivated throughout the season in preparation for this race.
The opening race of the day brought perhaps the biggest shock of the meet. Favorite Kennedy Weisner of Elk County Catholic showed no signs of relinquishing her state championship she won in comfortable fashion last season. But as they always say, races are not run on paper. The senior and Foot Locker Finalist suffered her first defeat in the Class A division since its inception last season, finishing in 3rd place behind runner up Beth Shenck and champion Marianne Abdalah of Vincentian Academy. The freshman put almost a full minute on the field, taking the state championship in her first attempt in 18:24, which a new meet record for the Class A division. Abdalah admitted her intense desire to try and defeat Kennedy to prove to herself and everyone else that she can win this meet.