Boys
Class
AAA
The state champions North Allegheny have managed to put
up a strong title defense thus far despite a large exodus of graduates from the
championship winning side. Qualification for states and an official title
defense seem very likely for a team that has only lost one meet by just one
point. But securing a repeat district title will be the tough task they will
look to achieve.
Mount Lebanon has been consistent this season with several
top three finishes boosted by a top three of Ian Harris, Todd Gunzenhauser, and
Josh Kalapos. They have yet to defeat North Allegheny, but have done well at
Slippery Rock and The Legends Meet in Ohio. Norwin is the other strong
contender to the North Allegheny dominance. They will be led by Matt O'Neill,
who has done well in his first cross country season. The sophomore has three
top five finishes. His team were victorious in all three meets. An improved
performance from their 5th runner will give them the boost their top
four needs for a title push.
Individual glory is set to go to Nick Wolk of Peters
Township, who has made a strong case for breakthrough runner of the year. Wolk
has four invitational victories, three of them were under 16 minutes. The only
runner to defeat Wolk is state champion Jake Brophy at the Foundation Invite on
September 26. Mike Kolor of Seneca Valley won the Tri State race last week and
will contend for more gold on Thursday. Marc Migliozzi of North Allegheny will
look to make it five top four finishes this season and a first career sub 16.
Mark Provenzo of Franklin Regional will look to prove that his Westmoreland
County performance was not a one off.
VIRTUAL
MEET
Class
AA
Four state qualifying berths will be at stake for the AA
squads on Thursday. Five teams are strong contenders for four qualifying spots,
meaning a top team in the district will miss the state meet.
Quaker Valley will toe the line with individual favorite
Zach Skolnekovic leading the charge. He has two victories and a 2nd
place mark to his name this season and has come very close to sub 16. Can he
get enough support from his teammates to return to the state meet?
Derry Area will have the best 1-5 grouping out of the
contending squads, giving them every chance of winning the title. Ryan Nicol
will lead their pack aiming for a sub 60 second spread in a packed field. Greensburg
Salem can give themselves an edge with a strong score from their front two of
Cameron Binda and Frankie King. A score of 20 points or less from those two
will be a big boost. South Fayette will be looking to achieve a similar
strategy with Sam Snodgrass and Aaron Pfeil. With the teams lacking depth,
front running from those teams will be a requirement for them to be successful.
VIRTUAL
MEET
Class
A
State champions Winchester Thurston will fancy their
chances of having a successful district meet. They have a front four that will
be very compact and perhaps no match for the rest of the field. Will Loevner is
the senior of the group that were on the title winning team last season. Our
Lady of Sacred Heart missed out on a state berth by 9 points last season and
will do all they can to avoid repeating that tough day. Chris Kocent will lead
the charge that will look for a sub 90 second spread in a big race.
Defending champions Sewickley Academy will have the two
favorites to go 1-2 in the race in Griffin Mackey and Ben Clouse to boost their
chances to return to the state meet at minimum. The depth is not the same from
last season, but should be enough to go through. Northgate and Shenango will
look to shock one of these contenders for a state spot, while Domenic Peretta
of Beaver Falls will look to defend his individual title.
VIRTUAL
MEET
