Photo by Ethan Rissell
Girls' Preview
When they met for the first time in a head-to-head high school race at the Carlisle Invitational, it was the freshman---Taryn Parks of Greencastle Antrim---that got the best of Chambersburg junior Abby Yourkavitch. But Yourkavitch was still coming off an early season and now in mid-October things could be different.
Yourkavitch won most recently at Slippery Rock a few weeks ago, while Parks earned the second of her two Maryland wins on that day. This should set up for a great individual battle between two of District 3's best (note that because of different classifications, they won't square off at districts). Last year, Yourkavitch was second to Cumberland Valley's Mady Clahane, who has since graduated. Without Clahane this time around, Yourkavitch surely wants that title all to herself.
Photo by Patty Morgan
Andrea Demko will lead Hershey into this race. Demko (PA#19) has some individual sleeper potential in this race, looking to best the aforementioned top two. But her team will be the favorites. They were fourth at Carlisle (second PA team) and they haven't raced an invite since, so Saturday will be a big test for the fifth-ranked team in PA. Taylor Mortensen should also be in the individual conversation for Hershey.
Plenty of teams will be chasing Hershey, looking for the upset. PA#6 State College Area will have the best shot. They were fourth at Foundation and could be primed for a big day. Carlisle, Northern, Cumberland Valley, and Chambersburg will also be gunning for the team title.
Other individuals to watch out for are Northern freshman Marlee Starliper, Greencastle Antrim's Lauren Hirnesisen, Central Dauphin's Sydney Myers, and Chambersburg's Kaylee Mowery.