Girls Preview - NXN Northeast Regional
- Entries
- Race Time: 1:45 P.M.
Team Breakdown
The top two teams in Pennsylvania will be bringing full squads to Bowdoin Park on Saturday. The AAA state champs and PA#1 North Allegheny and the AAA runners-up and PA#2 West Chester Henderson are among the squads that will be competing for nationals spots.
The top two teams automatically qualify, and a committee selects a few "at-large" teams from all regional meets. Those at-large bids usually do not go to Northeast teams.
North Allegheny rolled to a state title in AAA, putting just 65 points on the board. That was the lowest point total by a AAA girls squad since Pennsbury scored 47 in 2015 (That team went on to win NXR take 5th at NXN). Led by Hannah Lindgren (an dark horse individual threat), NA has a strong, tightly packed top 5 with Keeley Misutka and Caroline Daggett as a solid 2-3 duo, with freshman Rachel Hockenberry continuing to get better as the season goes on. Still relatively under the national radar, NA has a perfect opportunity to show the nation it belongs in the national conversation. Per NY MileSplit's speed rating projections, the Tigers would finish second on paper.
Henderson was second in AAA at states, 41 points back of NA. With a terrific lowstick and potential individual regional title threat Jenna Mulhern, the Warriors will contend as well. The "Courtneys" - Courtney Kitchen and Courtney Alexander - make for a great 2-3 punch (both were AAA state medalists). The key for a run at the top two will be the fifth runner. With a big day from No. 5, Henderson could surprise this weekend.
As for the field as a whole, getting inside the top two will mean getting past some strong New Jersey squads that are fresh off the state's Meet of Champions last weekend. North Hunterdon (NJ) won at MOCs, while Ridgewood (NJ) was second, followed closely by third place Holmdel (NJ). All three should be in the mix for the top two on Saturday. Champlain Valley (VT) was third in Manhattan's Eastern States race earlier this season, and certainly has some talent after cruising to the New England team title.
We should see a very close battle for the top spots here, with both PA teams having a legitimate claim for a spot in the coveted top two.
Individuals Breakdown
Last year, Katie Dammer ran to a third place regionals finish and then a surprise 23rd-place finish at nationals. This season PA could see other contenders rise to the top at regionals this weekend with a pair of PA state champions set to roll. The top 5 individuals not on qualifying teams make NXN.
West Chester Henderson's Jenna Mulhern is a just a freshman, but she's looked like a seasoned racer all season long. She went 17:42 to win the District 1 title and then a week later ran away with the AAA state title at Hershey. She'll be looking to keep her dream ninth grade season alive and will be in the mix for an individual qualifying spot if the team doesn't make the top two.
The other state champion is Loyalsock's Isabel Sagar. The senior and Harvard recruit has run sub-18 twice this season, including a course record of 17:56 at the District 4 Championships. Sagar ran away with the 1A state title three weeks ago and seems poised to contend for a nationals bid.
North Allegheny's Hannah Lindgren will be leading PA's top team, but individually, she'll have a shot at the top 5 if the Tigers fail to make the top 2. West Chester Henderson's Courtney Kitchen and Courtney Alexander will be looking for low team points, but should also perform well individually. Among the other individuals in the field are Unionville's Madison McGovern, Marcella Krautzel, and Meghan Smith, Elizabethtown's Madeline Quinn, and Kiski Area's Kierra Shreffler.