Girls Races Preview - Carlisle Invitational
Champions Race
Bishop McDevitt's Katelyn Deitrick has notched a pair of wins on the season already, and she'll be looking to make it three-for-three on Saturday. Her top challenge will likely come from Caroline Gregory of Frederick (MD). Gregory has also won a pair of invites below the Mason-Dixon Line and will look to add a third, as well, in this race.
The Central Cambria trio of Annaliese Niebauer, Morgan Brandis, and Stella Kuntz had a strong start to the season this season, and each of those girls should put themselves right in the mix for a high finish, and maybe even the win. Lansdale Catholic's Isabella Greco has raced well at Northampton and PTXC, and should be a factor up front, too.
It's been a great start for PA's top-ranked AA team, Central Cambria. The Red Devils cruised to the AA team title at the Red, White & Blue Classic, and now they return to action on Saturday. It will be interesting to see how the Devils will stack up with the bigger schools in the Challenge Race. CC will be the team favorites in the Champions Race with Frederick (MD) and Lewisburg Area looking to challenge.
Delaware squads Tatnall and Archmere Academy will have a good shot to make a run at a high finish. Trinity, Woodgrove (VA), and Bishop McDevitt should all be worth watching for in this race, too.
Challenge Race
Some of PA's top girls and some Virginia talent will clash in the Challenge Race on Saturday at noon. Heading up the list of out-of-staters is Thais Rolly of McLean (VA), Ava Gordon of Loudoun Valley (VA), and Anna Macon Corcoran of Yorktown (VA). Rolly opened up with a third place finish at Oatlands a few weeks ago, and is the defending VA Class 6 state champion. Gordon was the Class 4 state champion in VA last year and will make her invitational opener on Saturday. Corcoran was second at Great Meadow this season.
Rolly and Gordon look to be the favorites entering the meet, but plenty of top Pennsylvania girls are up for the challenge. After two out-of-state races, Claire Paci of Greencastle-Antrim returns to PA. She was sixth at Oatlands in VA and tenth at adidas in NC. The fourth place AAA state finisher from last year will certainly be one to watch in this field.
After a competitive race at Big Spring last week, a number of top girls will return to action this weekend. JP McCaskey's Isabella Shertzer (fourth at Ben Bloser), Chambersburg's Camryn Kiser (fifth), Susquehannock's Nicole Dauberman (sixth), and the Dallastown trio of Kailey Granger (seventh), Lydia Tolerico (eighth), and Victoria Rodriguez (ninth) are among the top girls from last week that are set to go after it at Carlisle.
Other top District 3 girls in this field includes Hershey's Brooke Preputnick, Hempfield's Ella Wolfe, and Gettysburg's Winter Oaster. Each of these girls could make a run at the top five with a good day. Headlining the District 1 talent in the field is West Chester Henderson's Weronica Ziemniak, West Chester East's Sonia Piombino, and Downingtown West's Carolyn Tarpley. Each girl will be making their 5K season debut.
It should be a close one for spots in the top ten and this race will be a good chance for a number of girls to make some big mid-season statements.
The team race will get interesting. Dallastown and Hershey -- a pair of top District 3 AAA teams -- will matchup for the first time this season. Both teams have had strong seasons, and this could determine which squad has the early upperhand about a month out from the district meet. Chambersburg, University High (WV), McLean (VA), Yorktown (VA), Dulaney (MD), and Loudoun Valley (VA) are among the other top teams in this field.
Downingtown West, Northeastern, and Warwick are also worth keeping an eye on, and each could make a splash into the top five.