Girls' Recap - Carlisle Invitational
Challenge Race
Marlee Starliper sizzled again on Saturday morning. In a race that was moved up due to 9 A.M. because of heat, the Northern senior rolled to another big win, claiming the Challenge Race in 17:05. She opened up a gap early on and kept to it going to finish on what was still a warm morning on the Travis Trail.
It wasn't an all-time state best or a course record, but it was another strong effort for Starliper. She'll look forward to a big training block now with her next race likely not coming until the PIAA District 3 Championships on October 26.
West Chester Henderson's Jenna Mulhern ran impressively to take second in 17:33, a 5K PR for the sophomore and defending AAA state champ. Mulhern stuck on Starliper early on and stayed strong for a solid 5K season debut. Like Starliper, her next 5K likely won't come until October 25's PIAA District 1 Championships.
Greencastle-Antrim's Taryn Parks took third in 18:00, just a second off her winning Carlisle time from last season. Northeastern's Margaret Carroll ran well to take fourth in 18:11, a new PR, and Carlisle's Sophia Toti was fifth in 18:13, also a PR.
State College Area took home the team title in a race that included eight top 10 ranked PA squads. The Little Lions turned it into a runaway, putting its top four between spots 18 and 28, separated by just 15 seconds. Freshman Marlee Kwasnica was the top finisher for SC, an 18th place finish in 19:11.
University High (WV) was second, led by Caroline Kirby's sixth place finish. Chambersburg posted another strong team performance, taking third with 210 points, paced by Camryn Kiser's 14th place run. Central Bucks West was fourth with 219 points and West Chester Henderson was fifth in 230 points in a battle of a pair of District 1's top teams.
Northeastern took sixth with 271, followed by West Chester East in seventh (294 points).
Champions Race
Peyton Ellis of Boiling Springs captured her second win of her freshman campaign, going wire-to-wire to win the Champions Race on a hot late morning. Ellis went 19:00 for the win, seizing the lead early and extending it from there. This follows up her win at Big Spring from two weeks ago.
Warwick's Anna Martin took second in 19:36 and Punxsutawney's Olivia Roberts was third in 19:39.
Central Cambria was dominant in the team standings, scoring 92 points for the win, 80 ahead of second place. Stella Kuntz led the way for the Red Devils with a fourth place finish in 19:47 and CC freshman Annalise Neibauer was sixth in 19:57.
Upper Dublin was second with 172 points and Washingtonville (NY) was third with 183 points.