Photo by Mae Kellert
Six Flags Wild Safari Invitational (Jackson, NJ)
Over in New Jersey, they're cooking up some safari fun. On the safari at Six Flags in Jackson, we've got the Wild Safari Invite. Some PA teams will be making the trip across state lines for the race and a ride on Kingda Ka (even though everyone knows El Toro is a better ride).
North Penn and Conestoga highlight the PA competitors in the girls' Varsity A race. North Penn is coming off a win at Briarwood, a week after winning at Abington and they will look to make it three in a row. They are the defending champs at this race, too. North Penn's Ariana Gardizy is also trying to make it three in a row after winning at Abington and Briarwood. She, too, is the individual defending champ here.
Gardizy's best competition may come from fellow PA and District 1 runner Dominique Shultz (PA#21). Shultz has already won in Jersey, taking the crown in the Junior Race at the Cherokee Challenge. It was there that she beat NJ star Alyssa Aldridge, and Saturday will be a chance for Shultz to show she can be a real contender statewide.
The Conestoga boys and Upper Darby boys will be in the Varsity A race. Syed Shah of Upper Darby will be one to watch in that race after starting his season with a second place to Josh Hoey at Rose Tree and a win at his home invite.
In the Varsity E race, Kane Area's Chelsea Kane will look to take the win. The freshman is coming off a win at the Bradford Invitational, where she ran 19:24 for the very impressive win. She's familiar with the Wild Safari course after winning the middle school 2.4K last year, too, which could provide a nice advantage.
Other competing PA teams are Little Flower (Girls' Varsity B), Marple Newtown (Girls' and Boys' Varsity B), Academy of Notre Dame (Girls' Varsity C), New Foundations Charter School (Girls' and Boys' Varsity D), Nazareth Academy (Girls' Varsity D), Phoenixville (Boys' Varsity D), Interboro (Girls' and Boys' Varsity E), Baldwin (Girls' Varsity E), Upper Perkiomen (Boys' and Girls' Varsity E), Sun Valley (Girls' Varsity E), and Convenant Christian Academy (Boys' and Girls' Varsity E).