D7-AAA Girls - Team & Individuals Breakdown
- Preseason Rankings: Team | Individual
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 3
- State Qualifying Spots For Non-Team Individuals: 15
- 2018 Individual Champion: Hannah Schupansky (Oakland Catholic) - 18:43
- 2018 Team Champion: North Allegheny - 45 points
Individuals Preview
Like usual, there is no shortage of talent back in the WPIAL in Class AAA. Despite the graduation of some talented girls, there is a wealth of strong runners expected to have big seasons. Two-time district champ Hannah Schupansky has graduated, so the door is open for a new champ
The highest placed WPIAL girl from the state meet is Hannah Lindgren of North Allegheny. She took fourth at states (after taking 10th in the district) to lead PA's top team. Lindgren is now a senior and will be among the top title threats in the WPIAL and the state.
Bethel Park's Emily Carter will be an interesting runner to keep an eye on, and one that is also capable of winning the district and the state. Carter was third at districts and then 11th at states. She had a huge spring on the track, running 10:16 for 3200 and 16:32 for 5K (the No. 2 fastest time in state history).
As a freshman, Moon Area's Mia Cochran was fifth at districts and then seventh at states. She moves into her sophomore year as one of the top girls to watch for. She ran 18:58 last year, the fastest returning time in the district. Fox Chapel's Grace Sisson was fourth at districts and then ninth at states (with one shoe on!). Expect Sisson to be in the mix once again as she prepares for her senior season.
While Lindgren led NA at states, it was the trio of Keeley Misutka, Caroline Daggett, and Rachel Hockenberry that led the way at the district meet, earning high finishes. All three are back and should be strong runners for the Tigers. Misutka (12th) and Hockenberry (17th) earned state medals, while Daggett (27th) was just on the outside looking in.
Mars Area's McKenna Bowes, Seneca Valley's Bailey Royhab, Upper Saint Clair's Claire Hoffman, and Fox Chapel's Brooke Krally are among the others that should make an impact both on the district and state level this season.
The top girls in the WPIAL will be battle-tested all season. As they proved last fall at states, that competition paid off in the form of high finishes at Hershey. The same may be true again this year with a deep set of talent back.
Team Preview
North Allegheny was dominant in 2018.
The Tigers rolled through the regular season before winning the WPIAL title by 62 points, scoring just 45. A week later, the district champs won the state title by 41 points. And this season, six of NA's top seven girls are back and the team's full scoring five. With a strong lowstick in Lindgren, along with great depth provided by Misutka, Hockenberry, Daggett, and Maura Mlecko, NA will be overwhelming favorites in both the WPIAL and the state.
So who can make a run at those two other state spots?
Fox Chapel Area, which won the 2017 state title and was fifth in 2018 at states, can't be counted out. Three of FC's top five have graduated, but Sisson and Krally are a talented 1-2 punch. If Fox Chapel can add some depth, look for them to compete for the top three again. Oakland Catholic was second at districts and seventh at states last year. OC, too, loses quite a few to graduation, and will need to retool to have a shot at states.
Upper Saint Clair was fourth at districts last year, not far off the third and final states spot. Five of seven varsity girls are back and USC is a good bet to crack into the top three this season. Hoffman and Sophia Shi are a pair of strong rising juniors.
Seneca Valley should be a factor, as well. The Raiders also return five varsity girls from its 2018 squad that was fifth at districts, just a few points behind USC. Royhab will lead the way for SV, which should contend for a states spot.
Pine-Richland (five of seven varsity girls back) and Butler (six of seven varsity girls back) are among the other teams that will be in the hunt in what should be another strong year for the WPIAL.