Class AA Girls: Dallas waits 12 months to make up 3 points, Chikotas cruises to 1st state crown

12 months ago, Dallas fell to Palmyra 91-94 after being the favorites coming into the finals. The 2013 season was full of twists and turns and it took until the state meet to get the varsity team healthy and on the line at the same time. This year, they weren't entering as clear favorites, but when you have a runner like Regan Rome on your team, who has the experience of qualifying for Foot Locker Finals, the team will be in the mix. Last year, Rome and her teammates did not have their best day. This time around, however, they were on fire! Rome got the 1 team point for the 2nd straight year in much more comfortable circumstances and runners 2-4 finished inside the top ten team places. Their 5th runner did her duty and completed the demanding course and Dallas were rewarded for their 12 month wait and came away as champions with 99 points.

"All we kept thinking about what that race last year and missing the title by 3 points," said Rome. "It was our biggest motivation for the entire season. We certainly knew it wasn't going to be easy to win, but this victory is awesome!"

Archbishop Wood had their best performance ever at a state championship meet, earning 2nd place with a score of 128 points with five runners in the top 40 team places, which put them ahead of Villa Maria Academy from district 10, who scored 156 points.

In the hunt for the individual title, Elizabeth Chikotas of Saucon Valley, like Abdalah before her, won by a big margin on her way to her first state title. The senior ran 18:43 to win the race by 27 seconds over Regan Rome of Dallas, who earned her 2nd straight top three finish. Alexis O'Shea of West Allegheny was an impressive 3rd in 19:22.