Girls Race Previews - Paul Short Run
Brown Race - 4:00 PM
There is a ton of talent in the first girls' race of the day and it should create an interesting race up front, and we should see a number of girls challenging the sub-18 barrier. Two years ago, seven girls went under 18 minutes and the conditions look favorable for another fast day.
There's a strong Pennsylvania contingent of seven top 25 ranked girls that will clash with New Yorker Daphne Banino of Ursuline School. Banino went 17:51 last week to take third at Six Flags in New Jersey. She now heads to PA, but she will be challenged. The race favorite may be Olivia Haas of Blue Mountain, who will be getting some competition for the first time this season. She has had runaway wins at Moravian Academy, DeSales, and then Foundation last week. She said she's in the best shape of her life and will certainly chase a fast time. She went 17:58 at Paul Short two years ago.
After that, Governor Mifflin's Kaitlyn Highduch, Owen J. Roberts' Claire Zubey, and Wilson's Caryn Rippey should all be in the mix near the front. Highduch has two high profile wins this season (PTXC and Ben Bloser), while Zubey was third in the Gold Race at Foundation last week. Rippey is an experienced runner, who was second to Highduch at Ben Bloser. All three are capable of chasing the win with a good day.
Wilson's Katie Dallas is having a great season, and we can expect her to be right near her teammate, Rippey. Mechanicsburg Area's Olivia Walter (fifth at Foundation) is in the midst of a breakthrough season, too, and should be in line for a big PR on Friday and a shot at the top five. Mount Saint Joseph's Ella Woehlcke, who won at Briarwood and was ninth at Foundation, will also have a shot at a big PR.
Other top 25 PA girls in the field include Penncrest freshman Ruby Schwelm (winner at Northampton earlier this year) and Germantown Friends senior Anna Macdonald (winner at George School last week). A number of girls will have a shot to prove they belong in the top 25, including State College's Marlee Kwasnica, West Chester East's Sonia Piombino, Hershey's Brooke Preputnick, Manheim Township's Ava Shirk, Emmaus' Hailey Reinhard, Conestoga's Julia Harris and Elizabeth Gares, and Forest City's Kate Korty, Mechanicsburg's Hope McKenney, and Hempfield's Ella Wolfe.
In the team battle five of the top ten ranked teams are entered and it looks wide open for the top spot. PA#4 Mount Saint Joseph Academy took the win at Briarwood and then placed second at Foundation, behind only North Allegheny. One through five this is a solid team that looks to be the early favorite in District 1. Ursuline School (NY) was fourth in the Varsity B race at Six Flags last week. The top out-of-state school entered for Friday has a good frontrunner in Banino and some solid depth that will make it a team that can chase the team title here.
Also entered is PA#6 Governor Mifflin, PA#7 State College Area, PA#9 Hershey, and PA#10 Mechanicsburg Area. Governor Mifflin has performed well at big meets this season, taking second at PTXC and first at Ben Bloser. State College was third at Foundation, while Mechanicsburg was fifth. State College has some really good depth and Mechanicsburg has a few lowsticks that will help its score. Hershey is fresh off a fourth place team finish last week at Carlisle.
There's a good mix of bubble teams in this field, too, with Conestoga, Manheim Township, Exeter Township, Wilson, and Strath Haven all capable of making big statements to open up October on Friday.
White Race - 5:00 PM
The White Race packs a good punch for Friday and should be an intriguing matchup between some strong runners. Bensalem's Shana Kearney is the lone top 25 ranked girl in the field. On the heels of a sixth place finish at Foundation, Kearney, a sophomore, returns to action this week. Kearney's 5K PR will have a good shot of going way down, as she chases the win here.
She'll be challenged by a good field that includes Penn Charter's Alli DeLisi, Hatboro Horsham's Lillian DiCola, Phoenixville's Anna Carruthers, Lansdale Catholic's Isabella Greco, and Calvert's Kristen Prince. DeLisi won the Griffins Invite earlier this year and earned to second place finishes, including at George School last week. DiCola won the Blue Race at PTXC 12.2 earlier this season. Both girls have been among the state's most impressive freshmen in 2021. Carruthers was a solid 15th at Foundation last week and should see a big PR this week. Greco has logged four top ten finishes this season already.
The team battle should be a good race between PA's top-ranked independent squad, Penn Charter and a strong Phoenixville Area team. Penn Charter took the win last week at George School, and Phoenixville impressed at Foundation, placing seventh in a deep field.
Other teams to watch include Berks Catholic, Honesdale, Liberty, Hatboro Horsham, and Wyomissing Area.