Teams
Defending champions Central Cambria will put their title on the line as they aim for back to back titles for the first time since 2007-2009 in AA. Most of the runners from last year's squad are back, but there have been some new additions to the varsity squad that have managed to stay unbeaten so far this season.
Freshman Paige Wess has been the top runner in their championship meets thus far. She has four top seven finishes and finished 3rd in the district 6 championship meet. She adds depth to a squad includes last season's championship members Sydney Gilkey, Emma Wess, Samantha Koss, and Carly Kaschalk.
A trio of teams have emerged as contenders to stop the Red Devils from retaining the title. District rivals St Joseph's Catholic Academy have only finished outside the top three in one invitational, the PIAA Foundation Invite in Hershey in September. They've improved since then and are led by District 6 champion Sera Mazza. The freshman hasn't finished worse than 6th in any meet and the district title was her first career victory. Their familiarity with the champions could give them an edge over the remaining chase pack. (PHOTO BY LISA COUSINS)
Holy Cross have been near the top of this division since its inception and will be in the mix once again. With a quality front duo of Lexi Walsh and Mackenzie Greenfield, it gives them a chance to have two single digit scorers. At District 2, they held off rivals Elk Lake, who were just a 5th runner shy of winning. Holy Cross did finish 10th in the Paul Short Brown race in early October.
Vincentian Academy have benefitted from the front running of two time defending state champion Marianne Abdalah leading the charge. But 2015 saw an improvement in the team that won the District 7 championship last week. Vincentian Academy have come the closest to defeating Central Cambria this season, finishing only 15 points behind the Red Devils at the PIAA Foundation Invite in late September. Abdalah's supporting cast is led by freshmen Marissa Canzian and Katherine Fedko. Should the remaining scorers have big meets, they will have a shot at an upset.
Other contenders for a top five finish include Elk Lake, who were just five points behind Holy Cross at District 2, District 1 champions Christopher Dock have a good five runner pack that will boost their hopes of a good finish. Laurel, North East, and Marion Center have individual leaders that can get them single digit scores.
Individuals
Everyone will be chasing defending champion Marianne Abdalah of Vincentian Academy. The junior will be seeking a 3-peat of state titles on Saturday. She has yet to finish worse than 2nd in any PA competition so far in her career. This season, she has five wins from five races and hasn't been challenged in any of them.
But when she won her first state title, she defeated overwhelming favorite Kennedy Weisner to earn an upset victory. She surely wouldn't want to have that done to her. However, there is a line of contenders who will want to pull off one of the shocks of the day.
2014 runner up Emma Seifried of Country Day School of the Sacred Heart has finished 2nd to Abdalah already this season at the PIAA Foundation Invite in September. Seifried has successfully defended her league and district titles, and has run under 18 minutes this season. Putting Abdalah under pressure will be key for Seifried if she wants to earn an upset.
Lauren Gronbeck of Eden Christian Academy has one win and four top three finishes. She was 3rd at the state meet last season and hasn't finished worse than 3rd in the past two years. She has yet to defeat Abdalah and to win it all, she will need to make it happen.
Sera Mazza of St Joseph's Catholic Academy will look to have a big state meet debut after a big first year. Experienced Holy Cross stars Lexi Walsh and Mackenzie Greenfield will push for a top ten performance. Paige Wess of Central Cambria will the team's best shot at an individual gold.