Too Close To Call All Around: AAA Girls States Preview

This may be the most wide open we've seen the AAA girls individual situation in years headed into the state meet. A number of girls will figure into the conversation of the top spot and should make for an exciting battle for the top spot in the state in AAA.

Let's start with the lone girl in this field who enters Saturday undefeated. Abington Heights' Katie Dammer has claimed win at the Lions Invitational, the Paul Short Run, and the PIAA District 2 Championships. She clocked a PR of 17:50 at Paul Short, and is looking to become the first state champion from Abington Heights since eventual Foot Locker national champion Tessa Barrett in 2013.

But there's a surplus of depth here in this field that should all be up there with Dammer. Upper Saint Clair's Savannah Shaw dominated the field at the PIAA Foundation Invitational, winning in 18:36. She also won at the Red, White & Blue Classic. After a 14th place finish at states last year, Shaw has really seen some great improvement.

But Shaw was upset at the WPIAL Championships last week by a surprise winner, Hannah Schupansky of Oakland Catholic. Schupansky, who was tenth at Foundation has been dealing with some iron issues according to her coach earlier in the season. But the junior ran the best race of her career at that Cooper's Lake race, winning in an incredible 17:58 and putting herself squarely in the state title mix.

We also can't forget about another WPIAL runner, the reigning state runner-up from North Allegheny, Clara Savchik. The senior took second in a wild finish to Aislinn Devlin last season and will hope to save her best race for last on Saturday. Savchik was third in the WPIAL, but certainly has the experience to contend on Saturday.

Photo by Howard Anderson

Cardinal O'Hara's Elizabeth Mancini has been running terrifically this season. She was 19th at states last season, but has been rolling this season, taking second at Briarwood, second at Foundation to Shaw, and winning PCL and District 12 titles. Her sister Eleanor Mancini is a solid runner, too. Eleanor has been battling an injury, but if she returns Saturday, look for those two to feed off of each other.

The runaway District 1 champion was Ariana Gardizy of North Penn. She's won six times this season---all coming at big invites. She blew away the field at Lehigh last week for the district win, showing she won't be afraid to go out and hang with the lead pack on Saturday at Hershey. She was ninth at states last season. Coatesville's Brooke Hutton was second to Gardizy at District 1, and should be a factor with a training regimen she's tailored towards running well late in the season.

Abby Yourkavitch of Chambersburg won her first District 3 crown in her final try last Saturday. She's earned three state medals in three years; her best a tenth place finish from last year. She'll be looking to improve even more upon that come Saturday. Dallastown's Emily Schuler was second to Yourkavitch (though she finished ahead of her at Carlisle earlier this season). Look out for the sophomore, who placed 16th in 2016 at states. Cocalico's Jamie Zamrin was eighth last year, and though she took fifth in District 3, expect her to shoot for another top ten spot in the state.

Those girls appear to be the favorites. And yes, it's a long list. Hershey's course has a way of bringing out the best (and sometimes worst) in some runners. Each of these girls will be hoping Saturday is their best day. They'll need it.

Other girls to watch for includes Hershey's Andrea Demko, Fox Chapel Area's Caelan Miller, Spring Ford's Gabriella Bamford, Conestoga's Dominique Shultz, North Allegheny's Hannah Lindgren, J.P. McCaskey's Lianna Tirado, Central Mountain's Alyssa Laughner, State College's Kileigh Kane, and Central Bucks West's Julia Flood and Piper Wilson.