Class AA Girls Individual Preview - PIAA State Championships
Marlee Starliper's three year reign atop AA girls in Pennsylvania comes to an end on Saturday, as we'll get a new champion. The record-setting Starliper is off at NC State, and there is plenty of talent waiting in the wings to assume the top spot.
Headlining this field is Cori McCormick of North Schuylkill, who put down a pair of sub-18 5Ks this season, and won a hotly-contested District 11 title last week. Although they were not in the same "heat," McCormick clocked a faster time than D11-AA rival Olivia Haas of Blue Mountain. McCormick is in some of the best shape of her career and is riding some good momentum off her first district XC title. She'll look to win her first state championship on Saturday.
Now that brings us to Haas, who defeated McCormick once in a early-season quad meet this season, while McCormick earned the next two decisions over Haas, winning the Schuylkill League title and then at the D11 Championships. Haas was fourth at the state meet last year, a spot ahead of McCormick, running a great race on the Hershey hills. These two once again won't be in the same heat, but they are among the two favorites.
Brownsville's Jolena Quarzo will be one to watch in this field. She was eighth a year ago and comes into Saturday race-ready. Quarzo, unlike many others in the field, has plenty of invitational experience entering the weekend. She's raced to four wins and will be matched up in the same heat as McCormick, which will make for a good head-to-head battle.
Also in that heat is Meaera Shannon of Conneaut Area, who will be a factor in this race, for sure. The senior posted three sub-19 performances this year, most recently running to the District 10 title against a very talented field. Shannon was 11th last year, but is running the best of her career right now and should be right in the mix. Those other D10 girls -- Sharon's Gianna Labbiento (second in D10) and Fairview's Maddison Hayes (fourth in D10) -- can't be forgotten either. Labbiento was seventh a year ago and Hayes was sixth, and these seniors have some good experience at the state meet. Corry Area's Hannah Smrcka was third in D10 and is worth keeping an eye on after a strong district meet.
Warrior Run's Lauren Trapani is another experienced runner that will be right in the mix near the front. The senior is a three-time state medalist and went 18:38 in the mud to win her fourth straight District 4 title last week. She's been undefeated this fall, and she should will be going for big things in her last XC state meet, especially with big team implications.
District 3 champion Peyton Ellis has taken big victories in each of the last two weeks leading into states. She was 14th a year ago and is primed to make a run at the top five this time around. Ellis was closely rivaled by Wyomissing's Grace Kuhn in D3. Kuhn is running very well right now and has the potential for a big race on Saturday. Westmont Hilltop's Ellie Dorian won a tough District 6 race and is running well coming into states. Dorian and her teammate Julia Dill (second in D6) will be ones to watch in this field.
District 9 champion Korie Dixon, a freshman from Bradford, has run well in her first high school season. She has been undefeated through his dual meet schedule and ran a best of 19:07. Lansdale Catholic sophomore Isabella Greco went 19:03 at Belmont Plateau is awful conditions to win the District 12 title, so she could be looking at a big performance coming her way at the state meet on Saturday.
Others to watch in this field include District 1 champion Gianna Cagliola of Pope John Paul II, Lakyn Schaltenbrand of Montour, Hope Trimmer of Uniontown, Ryley Schwalm of North Schuylkill, Alyssa Hoffman of Warrior Run, Coyla Bartholomew of Danville, Stella Kuntz of Central Cambria, Shaela Kruskie of Selinsgrove, Sarah Clark of Villa Maria, and Samantha Hayes of Saint Marys Area