Team & Individuals Breakdown
- Preseason Rankings: Team | Individual
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 2
- State Qualifying Spots For Individuals: 10
- 2019 Individual Champion: Olivia Haas (Blue Mountain) - 18:18
- 2019 Team Champions: Northwestern Lehigh - 83 points
Individuals Breakdown
Blue Mountain's Olivia Haas had an impressive sophomore campaign. After going sub-18 with a 17:58 at Paul Short, Haas captured her second straight D11-AA title and then took fourth at the state meet in a loaded AA race. Haas got better as the season went along and is the top AA returner based on state meet finish. She'll be worth watching for this season.
But Haas will still face a good challenge within her district, with North Schuylkill's Cori McCormick likely making a good run at the win. McCormick was second to Haas at districts and then fifth at states, a place behind Haas. This will be a great matchup to keep an eye on and both girls should push each other to big things this fall.
After the national-caliber top two in D11-AA, the other eight top ten finishers from the district meet last year were underclassmen (one girl -- Mel Love -- moved to Class A). Tamaqua Area's Grace Stegemerten was third last year and North Schuylkill's Ryley Schwalm was fourth. Stegemerten was 50th at states, while Schwalm was 30th. Both should be in the hunt for states medals this season. Isabel Devos of Allentown Central Catholic, after taking fifth in the district last year, did earn a state medal, running to a 25th place finish at Hershey, and surely she'll be in the mix to make a return trip to the podium.
Northwestern Lehigh's Angelina Klein, North Schuylkill's Katie McCormick, Wilson Area's Alyssa Errico, and Bethlehem Catholic's Maragret Burke are all back from the top ten in the district from last season.
Team Breakdown
Like Class A, AA gets two teams into the state meet this season, up from one last season. It was a fierce battle last year for that lone spot as Northwestern Lehigh claimed the lone spot, with North Schuylkill, Allentown Central Catholic, and Tamaqua Area not far behind.
This year it should be close once again. NW Lehigh will look to its depth to secure yet another district crown. With Klein fighting for a top five finish, this team has some good talented underclassmen after her that will put it in the mix; they lose just one varsity runner from last season.
North Schuylkill brings back its full varsity squad from last season, led up front by C. McCormick, who should get first or second, and Schwalm and K. McCormick also supplying lowsticks. Tamaqua brings back five varsity girls, while ACC has four varsity returners. If those teams can add some extra depth, it could get very interesting in the race for the top two and a berth to Hershey.