D2-AA Girls - Team & Individuals Breakdown
- Preseason Rankings: Team | Individual
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 2
- State Qualifying Spots For Individuals: 10
- 2020 Individual Champion: Madelyn Keating (Wyoming Area) - 19:48
- 2020 Team Champions: Holy Redeemer - 44 points
Individuals Breakdown
2020 was a breakthrough season for Madelyn Keating of Wyoming Area. In her first season of XC, the sophomore ran to the District 2 Class AA title, and then earned a state medal a week later in Hershey, placing 14th in AA. Into her junior year, Keating will certainly be one to watch on the heels of her impressive debut season. She is the D2-AA favorite and a potential top five state threat.
Honesdale's Brenna Dahlgren had a strong freshman season, placing third in the district and then 29th at the state meet. Now a sophomore, look for her experience to put her right in the mix for a state medal this season. North Pocono's Emily Franklin was 57th at the state meet after placing fourth in the district.
The Holy Redeemer trio of Grace Holmes, Lexie Marcinkowski, and Emily Lehman each have state meet experience from last year as well. Those three went 6-7-8 at the district meet last season.
Team Breakdown
For a second straight year in 2020, the Holy Redeemer girls turned the team race in D2-AA into a runaway. Putting just 44 points on the board, the HR girls stormed to a 47-point victory, taking the lone state qualifying spot. At Hershey, down its top runner, Holy Redeemer placed tenth. Now begins the quest for three straight district titles. Holmes, Marcinkowski, and Lehman are a strong top three that will look to work together as a pack during the season. Holy Redeemer has the depth to be the early favorite to claim the top spot, but it will surely have some challengers.
North Pocono, which was second at the district meet last year, would have qualified to states in a normal year, but only one team from each district got the berth to states. NP brings back its top six girls from last year, paced by Franklin. North Pocono has a good pack and if they can work up in the field, they can make a run at Holy Redeemer.
Honesdale will be a team to watch as well. Third at the district meet last year, Honesdale brings back its full varsity squad from last year. It was a young team in 2020, with the ninth grader Dahlgren leading the team. With another year under its belt, this team could also be a threat to the top spot, or at least a top two district finish.
Valley View has a lot of returners that will make them a factor for a top two spot. The 2018 district champs will have a senior-heavy team with six of its top seven returning. Dallas returns six of its seven girls from last year's team -- all of whom are freshmen -- so this is a team to keep an eye on, too.