Teams
Villa Maria Academy have been the class of the division
since their opening race on September 12 at the Red White and Blue Invite. They
won the AAA race at that meet with 25 points and blew the field away. They
followed that up with victories at Slippery Rock, PIAA Foundation, and McQuaid.
Only a slight hiccup at the Tri State Championships has prevented Villa Maria
from going unbeaten. Claire Brown leads the charge for the defending champions,
who will be heavy favorites.
As for the chase pack, Vila Joseph Marie out of district
1 have become one of the surprise teams of the season. The team has been
embedded with a brand new group of young freshmen who have embraced the high
school scene. Katie Irelan won the district title and has been the top runner
of this new team that has five 9th graders in the varsity seven.
This will be the biggest stage they have competed on as a young team. With no
pressure, they should handle the stage well.
Quaker Valley have been on a good roll since the start
of October. Lucie Kubinski and Audrey Durbin have been the two frontrunners on
the team this season. But in the past few weeks, the success has been boosted
by the return of the 1600 meter AA state champion Hannah Bablak. She finished
as their 3rd runner for their district title win and her quick rise
up the team can help Quaker Valley earn a high finish on Saturday.
Abington Heights won district 2 and finished 2nd
at the Foundation Meet that Katie Dammer was victorious in. Danville Area won
District 4 and will have a good pack supporting front runner Mackenzie Jones.
Individuals
Defending state champion Ally Rome of Dallas is finding
her championship form at the right time. Rome is coming off a district 2 win
and she will enter the meet with the fastest time in the division. She has
finished in the top 10 in all competitions this season. The only disadvantage
she may have is that her title win last year was boosted by having teammate
Lindsay Oremus run the entire race alongside her. Will Rome be able to produce
a solo title defense?
A pair of freshmen will look to upset the champion and
win the state title in their first attempt. Kiele Riefenstahl of Saucon Valley
enters the state race unbeaten against PA competition and will fancy her
chances to place high on Saturday. The other freshman in the field that can
make a big noise is Katie Irelan of Villa Joseph Marie. She has been the leader
for the team since day 1 and is the district 1 champion. She ran 18:30 at
Lehigh and will aim for a top five finish at states.
Maggie Toczko of Tunkhannock, Erin Feeney of Scranton
Prep, and Katie Dammer of Abington Heights compose of a District 2 trio that
will be looking to upset Ally Rome on Saturday. Toczko won the Spiked Shoe
Invite, Erin Feeney won in her first meet at Cliff Robbins, and Katie Dammer
won at PIAA Foundation. They will have a big gap to close on Rome, but their
familiarity with the champion should give them hope.
Kayla Connelly of Lansdale Catholic has finished in the
top ten each of the past two seasons at states and is coming off her 3rd
consecutive district 12 championship. Michelle Bauer of St Mary's has been one
of the most improved runners of the season, finishing in the top seven in all
competitions, including a three meet winning streak.
