Girls Preview - PIAA District 7 Championships
Class A
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 4
A couple freshmen will look to steal the show in the 1A race on Thursday in Cal U. Fresh off taking the top 1A TSTCA spot on the same course they'll use for WPIALs, Corinn Brewer of Greensburg Central Catholic will look to add a district title to her name. Brewer clocked an impressive 19:44 on the hills of Roadman, and will be tough to beat. The other talented frosh in the field is Alaina Hicks of North Catholic. She was second at TSTCAs to Brewer and will hope to flip the script this week.
We can't forget about Haley Hamilton of OLSH. Last year, Hamilton ran to the D7-A title before placing seventh at states. She had a breakthrough districts performance last year and may be in line for another one this week. Vincentian Academy's Tara Lucot and Hollie Walters will figure into the front pack. Neshannock's Abby Hutchison, Shenango's Carmen Medvit, and Northgate's Megan Wisniewski should also be in the mix.
Four teams will earn state berths in 1A. Vincentian Academy will look to win its fourth consecutive WPIAL title on Thursday. At last week's TSTCA Championships, Vincentian earned the win by 12 points over North Catholic in a smaller field (when you take out the AA schools). In a bigger field on Thursday, Vincentian will look to capture the win again with lowsticks in Lucot and Walters. North Catholic has the lowstick in Hicks, and will look for others from its young core to step up. Last year, NC was just nine points off the champs from Vincentian.
Our Lady of Sacred Heart will look to get in the mix. Third a year ago, OLSH should have some good pieces, led by Hamilton, to crack the top four again. There's a deep group of teams that can legitimately contend for that states spot, including West Greene, which missed making states by just a point last year. Riverview, Shenango, Eden Christian, and Neshannock will also be in the hunt.
Class AA
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 3
A good battle is coming in the individual race in D7-AA. Quaker Valley's Annie Wicker and Brownsville's Gionna Quarzo will go head-to-head for the first time this season. Wicker won at Red, White & Blue and Sharpsville, while Quarzo won at Marty Uher and TSTCAs (both on the Cal U. course). Thurday will be a good test for these two, who are also two of PA's best in AA.
There's a deep group of other individuals, who will hope to mix it up with the favorites. Belle Vernon's Grace Henderson, South Fayette's Hailey Poe, Avonworth's Anna Igims, Indiana Area's Isabelle McCabe, and Quaker Valley's Anna Cohen
One of the closest team battles in the state came in the D7-AA race last fall. The top four teams were separated by just 19 points with only the top three qualifying for the state meet. We may see a similarly close race again this year.
The race for the top spot appears to be between Greensburg Salem and South Fayette. Both teams have been absurdly close when they matched up this season, with SF topping GS at Marty Uher, GS finishing ahead of SF at Red, White & Blue (merged results), and SF beating GS by four at Foundation. The stage is set for another good one on Thursday. Avonworth, Indiana Area, New Castle, and Elizabeth Forward are among the teams with a good shot at the third qualifying spot in D7-AA.
Class AAA
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 3
Last year, Hannah Schupansky shocked the district and the state, dropping a 17:58 on a modified Cooper's Lake course to win. The Oakland Catholic senior has looked strong all season again this fall, and will look to bring home her second straight WPIAL title. She'll have company up front, though.
Fox Chapel's Sarena Seeger ran to the TSTCA crown last week with a great kick. Seeger has had a solid senior season, too, and will be going for the individual win. Hannah Lindgren of North Allegheny was second at TSTCA and has been very consistent leading the PA#1 squad all season.
Moon Area freshman Mia Cochran continues to impress in her first season. Bethel Park's Emily Carter, Fox Chapel's Grace Sisson, Kiski Area's Kierra Shreffler, the NA duo of Keeley Misutka and Caroline Daggett, and Mars Area's McKenna Bowes will also be fighting for top five places and possibly even the win on the right day.
The PA#1 North Allegheny girls asserted their top state ranking this past Thursday at the TSTCA Championship, putting its full top five inside the top 15 on the same course they'll return to for the WPIAL Championships. The state's top team has hardly seen a blemish this season, earning big wins at Red, White & Blue, Foundation, and most recently, TSTCAs, where NA scored just 40 points. Lindgren is a strong No. 1 runner, and Mitsutka, Daggett, and freshman Rachel Hockenberry have provided a huge lift this season.
The reigning AAA state champions, Fox Chapel Area (PA#4) look on pace to earn one of the three state bids for D7-AAA. They don't quite have the firepower to match NA, but Seeger, Sisson, Brooke Krally, and Annika Urban are a strong group of potential medalists. Oakland Catholic (PA#7) stepped up in a big way to win the WPIAL last season. With a lowstick in Schupansky and some good depth, Oakland will look for more fireworks this season
A host of teams will be looking to challenge for that third and final state spot, though. Pine-Richland was impressive at TSTCAs with a 1-5 spread of just 25 seconds, which will be even more crucial at the district meet. Upper Saint Clair and Seneca Valley weren't far behind P-R at TSTCAs (just 19 points separated those three teams) and all could make a good run at Hershey. Norwin, the Westmoreland champs, Moon Area, Mount Lebanon, and Peters Township will also be in the mix in this deep district that on merit alone could make the argument it deserves more than three state qualifying spots.