4. AAA girls and boys are wide open on the individual side
One thing this week told us is that the individual situation in the always-deep AAA classification is wide open.
On the girls' side, Hannah Schupansky of Oakland Catholic rolled to the District 7 title for a second straight year. She'll look to put it all together at the state meet. But it may be a freshman -- West Chester Henderson's Jenna Mulhern -- who could steal the show. Mulhern went 17:41 at Lehigh to win District 1. Others like D1 runner-up Allyson Clarke of West Chester East, Grace Forbes of Strath Haven, D7 runner-up Sarena Seeger of Fox Chapel, D3 champ Emily Schuler of Dallastown, or another sleeper pick will be aiming to steal the show.
The boys' AAA race may be even more wide open. PA#1 Zach Kinne of North Allegheny was 8th at the District 7 meet. Perhaps his teammate and the state's top AAA returner from last year, Daniel McGoey, could be the one to beat. District 1 champ Cole Walker of Unionville, District 7 runner-up Patrick Anderson of Mount Lebanon, District 2 champ Wallenpaupack's Tyler Wirth, or District 6 winner Brayden Harris of Mifflin County and other District 1 boys Payton Sewall and Christian McComb could all be at the top of the PIAA podium.
Surprise winners are nothing new to the PIAA State Championships. In both races, we could see more this season in AAA.