Girls' District 7 Preview
Photo by Lisa MacArthur
Class-A
For a time, it looked like Marianne Abdalah's hopes of four-peating as WPIAL and PIAA-A champion were in jeopardy. She had a late start to her season and didn't look like the classic Abdalah we've seen in year's past. She silenced those critics for now with a big performance down in Virginia at Third Battle, where she took sixth in a loaded field in 18:40.
It looks like the senior will be favored once again in D7-A, and she'll look to lead her Vincentian Academy to a second straight district title. With Katherine Fedko and Marissa Canzian in addition to Abdalah, it doesn't look like any can compete with them.
There are four state spots available this year for D7-A, up one from last year, so there will be a number of teams vying for those spots. Laurel, Neshannock, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Our Lady of Sacred Heart, Riverview, and Northgate will be among the teams looking for a trip to Hershey.
In the individual race after Abdalah, there are a number of talented runners. There's VA's Fedko and Canzian, along with Neshannock's Abby Hutchison, New Brighton's Alyssa Campbell, and Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic's Rylee Kopchak. They should all be looking for spots in the top five. D7-A now gets 20 individual spots for the state meet.
Photo by Phil Grove
Class-AA
Quaker Valley will look to defend its D7-AA title and they'll be the heavy favorites to do so after an impressive 2016. Anna Pawloski has emerged as a strong frontrunner for QV and she appears to be the favorite on Thursday after claiming wins at Sharpsville and her conference meet this season. Audrey Durbin and last year's D7-AA runner-up Lucie Kubinski will also provide important low sticks for QV.
The Ambridge Area duo of Mica Hanish and Elyssa Penson were fourth and fifth last year and should factor in up near the front this year. Brownsville's Gionna Quarzo is only a freshman, but she's been impressive this season and will be looking to secure her first states berth. Greensburg Salem's Riley Kwiatkowski is a former state medalist looking for a high finish on Thursday.
While Quaker Valley are the favorites in the team race, Brownsville, Ambridge, Indiana, Greensburg Salem, and South Fayette will be among the teams with a shot at one of the three state qualifying spots.
Photo by Don Rich
Class-AAA
Last year, Oakland Catholic finished fourth in District 7 and found themselves on the outside looking in on a state berth. That won't be the case this year, as Oakland has proven to be not only the best team in the WPIAL, but also the state.
The reigning district champ Lauren Finikiotis will be one of the frontrunners on Thursday, looking to defend her title, and she's been having her best season of her career. She posted a 17:49 at Paul Short earlier this year. Her best challenger will be North Allegheny's Clara Savchik. Savchik beat Finikiotis at the Foundation Invite and most recently won at Tri-States. That is shaping up to be one of the best individual battles of districts week.
After Finikoitis, Oakland is loaded with depth with Megan Nagy, Hannah Schupansky, Teresa Davison, and Kathryn Aldrich making up the rest of the that squad.
Greater Latrobe's Maria Cawoski and Upper St. Clair's Savannah Shaw will look to mix it up with the leaders. Butler's Maggie Welty, Mount Lebanon's Aoife-Ruby Dunne, Franklin Regional's Sterling Simek, North Hills' Ava Pietryzk, and the Fox Chapel duo of Sarena Seeger and Annika Urban will be among the others names to watch out for in this deep field.
While Oakland should get the top spot, it'll be a heck of a race for the final two state qualifying spots for teams. North Allegheny won at Tri-States and looks primed to grab another state qualifier. Fox Chapel has looked impressive this season, and so has Mount Lebanon. Greater Latrobe, Seneca Valley, Norwin and Butler will be other squads with a chance at making Hershey.