Girls Preview - PIAA District 2 Championships
Class A
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 1
It looks like there will be an intense battle for the top spot in D2-A and its lone state qualifying spot this season. Holy Cross will be shooting for a repeat district title, but Elk Lake has proven to be a strong team this season after a 2017 that saw them not have the minimum five runners.
The two perennial powers met at an invite once this season at Foundation. Holy Cross was eighth and Elk Lake took tenth, 43 points behind. A lot can change in a month-plus, so expect a close one here.
Freshman Krista Jones from Elk Lake may be the one to beat. She was ninth at Foundation and went 19:51 earlier this season before taking the Lackawanna County title. Another ninth grader -- Rachel Korty of Forest City -- could challenge Jones; she was second in Lackawanna. Olivia James of Lakeland, another frosh, could mix it up with the leaders on her home course.
The top returner from last year, Molly Repecki of Holy Cross, who was second in the district, will be one to watch. She was 16th at Foundation. Sadie Bosscher of Elk Lake was fourth at districts last year and should also contend near the front.
Class AA
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 2
Mia Bellucci of Scranton Prep will be shooting to defend her title in D2-AA on Saturday. The senior was a runaway champ last season and now she returns with her eyes on a second straight title. She'll be challenged by a newcomer, freshman Molly DeMarzo of Crestwood. DeMarzo beat Bellucci at the season-opening Cliff Robbins Invite, but Bellucci finished better at Foundation. Expect a good battle between those two at Lakeland.
Other individual contenders include Lake Lehman's Abby Paczewski (second to DeMarzo at WVC), Mackenzie LaMorte of Honesdale, and the Dallas duo of Megan Borton and Kaitlyn Hodakowski.
Expect a tight race for the top spot and the second of two state qualifying bids. The defending champs from Scranton Preparatory will be challenged in a big way on Wednesday. Holy Redeemer, the WVC champs last week, finished 12 points ahead of Scranton Prep at Foundation earlier this season.
Honesdale will also be in the mix. They beat Holy Redeemer at the NEPA Invite a few weeks ago, and have some very solid depth. Meanwhile, Valley View has a great pack and a slim 1-5 spread. Dallas was third in the WVC, just 22 points off Holy Redeemer
This will be a very close race for limited state spots with no clear-cut favorite. Depth will be the key here.
Class AAA
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 1
There's a close one brewing in AAA for the one and only states spot. Abington Heights are the defending champs, but they are without Katie Dammer, who is at Georgetown. The door is wide open for a new individual champ and team champ.
Williamsport Area, Abington Heights, and Hazleton Area are among the top contenders in what will figure to be a very close battle for the team title. Williamsport is led by Lydia Smith, the individual favorite. It will look to have the rest of its varsity team try and lower the gap to Smith.
Abington Heights has a strong duo up front with Abby Marion and Hannah Hughes, who will look to give Smith a run for her money. Hazelton has some good depth that will be crucial on Wednesday. Williamsport and Hazleton met at the Foundation Invite in September, where Williamsport placed 23rd to Hazleton's 29th. Abington Heights has been relatively quiet on the invite front this fall.
Other individual contenders include Pittston's Nicole Zambetti and Delaware Valley's Laina Bogusta.