The rematch between 2 time champion Marianne Abdalah of Vincentian Academy and Emma Seifried of Country Day School of the Sacred Heart was looked at as a business as usual race for the champion. She's never lost to Seifried in two appearances and Abdalah had a 4 race winning streak on the state course.
At the halfway mark, Seifried was right on Abdalah's heels. Abdalah went about her race and attacked the hills. At the 2 mile mark, Seifried was still sitting on Abdala's shoulder. On the up end of the Aloha Hills, Seifried went for the lead. It may have been the move that prevented her from overcoming Abdalah in the final stretch. Abdalah managed to edge out enough of a lead and hold off Seifried, who didn't have a kick left, to make it three state titles in three appearances! 18:50 was the time recorded for both athletes, but Abdalah had to run every step of those 5000 meters at her very best to keep her perfect state streak alive!
Lauren Gronbeck of Eden Christian Academy finished in a solid 3rd place in 19:33, Sara Mazza of St Joseph's Catholic Academy was 4th, and rounding out the top five was Jordan Haberstroh of Columbia.
The battle for the first team title was an indication of how dramatic the state meet was going to play out. Defending champions Central Cambria were hoping to put their best race of the season together when it mattered most. District rivals St Joseph's Catholic Academy were looking to defeat the champions for the first time in their history at a time that mattered the most.
They managed to get Sara Mazza and Lucia Person to finish ahead of Central Cambria number one Sydney Gilkey, and managed to get their scoring five to score under 35 points each to counter the champs and their 67 second spread. In the end, St Joseph's Catholic Academy won their first state title in the five year history of the school, 90-97 over Central Cambria.
3rd place went to Christopher Dock, 4th place went to Holy Cross, and rounding out the top five was Vincentian Academy.