PIAA District 9 Championships - Girls' Preview
Class-A
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 2
Last year, Northern Potter pulled out the district title, and took the first three spots. Unfortunately for the defending champions, it doesn't look like it will have a full five girls needed to qualify a team to the state meet this season.
So the heavy favorite on Saturday is Cranberry, which took second to AA's Saint Marys at the Ridgway Invitational, a nice pre-districts meet on the same course. Cranberry finds its strength in depth, led by Tifany Berry and Kalynne Ziegler.
Northern Potter will still have some individuals competing for the win, though. The reigning champ Danielle Perry is running well as of late. She won the small schools race at the Cuba-Rushford Invitational in new York a few weeks ago. Amanda Ford, who was second in 2016 at districts, should also be a factor near the front.
Chelsea Hunt may have transferred from Kane Area to Elk County Catholic, but the sophomore will still be in the mix once again. She was fourth last season in this race, but is a returning state medalist, who may very well be the one to beat.
Class-AA
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 1
Amanda Foster has picked up right where two-time District 9 champion and her former teammate Michelle Bauer left off. Foster has been on a roll in 2017, earning wins at McDowell, Bradford, Ridgway, and Rocky Grove. She was second to Bauer last season, but all signs point to Foster taking the win on Saturday.
Karns City's Rebecca Pennington is running well this season, too. She was third at districts last season and has picked up wins at Punxsutawney and KSACs this season, so she has plenty of momentum going to the district meet.
Clearfield's Abby Laborde, Saint Mary Area's Megan Quesenberry, and Bradford's Logan Sunafrank are among the other individuals to watch for in AA.
Saint Marys Area, led by Foster, is the heavy favorite to take the team title and the one state qualifying spot that comes with it. Bradford and Clearfield will be the teams fighting it out for second, Clearfield beat Bradford by 22 points at the Ridgway Invitational earlier this season.