Two of Pennsylvania's top distance runners went south for Saturday's Great American XC Festival in Cary, NC and came away with impressive performances in loaded fields.
Jolena Quarzo of Brownsville Area was fifth, closely followed by Moon Area's Mia Cochran, who came across sixth. Quarzo went 17:17 -- a big PR for the junior. Cochran, a senior, clocked a time of 17:18. Ciara O'Shea from Kentucky won the race in 17:08.
Quarzo has logged three wins on the season coming into Great American, though her performance Saturday is her strongest run of the season so far this year. It's been a busy last week of travel for Cochran, who was seventh at the Desert Twilight Festival in Arizona last Friday.
It may be the last time these two girls square off until after the state meet. Quarzo competes in PIAA Class AA, while Cochran is in PIAA Class AAA.
Watch the Girls Championship Race below.