Class A Girls' Individuals Preview - PIAA State Championships
There are plenty of interesting battles to watch for on the individual side for this year's state meet. But there are few more compelling races than the one that will be the first of the day: Class A girls. Frankly, any number of about ten girls have the ability to win this title. It will all come down to who brings their best on Saturday morning.
So who will be in the hunt? Portage Area's Lauren Shaffer is the top returner, and she also enters the meet undefeated on the season. She was a surprise second place finisher last season, and now in her sophomore year she's moved out from under the radar and will be a state title contender. She won at Altoona, TSTCAs, and most recently went 19:11, a PR, to win the District 6 title. She runs well on hills may have what it takes with more experience under her belt.
Wilmington's Grace Mason was third last season and looks to be even stronger this season. She went 19:00 at her region meet and then won the D10 crown by 44 seconds last week. She won't be afraid to go to the front and push the pace.
Haley Hamilton of Our Lady of Sacred Heart won the PIAA Foundation Invitational, which started a three-race win streak for the senior who was seventh at states last year. She handled Hershey well, pulling away in the second half of Foundation to win handily. The WPIAL champ is running well at the right time and could bring home that top spot. Northern Lehigh's Reagan Pender, the District 11 champion, was second to Hamilton at Foundation. She took sixth at states last year and looks to be in a good spot, heading into the state meet. She's another senior with a good shot at the win.
North Catholic's Alaina Hicks and Julia Zalenski went 2-3 at WPIALs last week behind Hamilton. This is a strong young duo that could be in the mix for high finishes, too. Another strong WPIAL duo is Vincentian's Hollie Walters and Tara Lucot. Along with Northgate's Grace Baldauff and Lydia Valeriano, Greensburg Central Catholic's Corinn Brewer, and Shenango's Emily Olcott, District 7 will have a number of top ten contenders.
There's a strong D6 contingent after Shaffer. Marion Center has a solid pair in Alyx Cornetto and Reagan Ryen and Westmont Hilltop is led by Bridget Barbato and Ellie Dorian. Each will be in the top ten hunt, gunning for low team points. Penns Valley's Kelsey Hull, 24th at states last year, will also be a factor for a high place again.
Kutztown's Erika Moriarty won the District 3 title in a solid time of 19:25. She's a threat for a big run at Hershey. Annville-Cleona's Braetan Peters and the newly returned Laura Sakol of Camp Hill (a returning state medalist) are among the other strong D3 runners in this field.
Elk Lake's Krista Jones was 17th at states last year as a freshman. Now the sophomore is coming off a District 2 title and should mix it up inside the top ten this season. She was fourth at Foundation. District 11 runner-up Grace Medei of Notre Dame Green Pond was tenth at states last year and could be a factor again this year. Hannah Wagner of Reynolds and West Middlesex's Lia Bartholomew make up a good group of D10 girls after Mason. Wagner was a strong fifth at Foundation.
It will likely be a crowded front pack of contenders. The lead will switch hands multiple times, and it will all come down to who has the most left in the last mile after the Aloha Hills. It's anyone's state title for the taking. It could be the making of another surprise up front.