District 1 Class A Girls - Race Preview
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 1
- State Qualifying Spots For Individuals: 5
Individuals To Watch: Sadie Bernd (Dock); Skylar High (New Hope-Solebury); Ella Hines (Delco Christian); Nina Meixler (New Hope-Solebury); Olivia Spoerl (Jenkintown);
Contending Teams: Delaware County Christian; Dock Mennonite; New Hope-Solebury
The Skinny: The individual race will likely come down to Spoerl, Hines, Meixler, and High in what could turn out to be a very close race. Each have traded off top finishes when they've raced at various times this season, so it will come down to who brings their best on race day. The team race should be a close one, as well, with New Hope, Dock, and Delco Christian all in contention. Delco Christian won the BAL title last week and narrowly beat Dock at the Dock Invite, while New Hope was ninth in the SOL American Conference.
District 1 Class AA Girls - Race Preview
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 2
- State Qualifying Spots For Individuals: 10
Individuals To Watch: Gianna Cagliola (PJP); Marianne Cheeley (Merion Mercy); Meredith Glunz (Villa Joseph Marie); Siri Hellenbrand (Lower Moreland); Amelia Ogawa (Lower Moreland); Cate Quinn (Villa Joseph Marie); Kathryn Todd (PJP); Ella Verello (Nazareth Academy)
Contending Teams: Gwynedd-Mercy Academy; Lower Moreland; Villa Joseph Marie; Villa Maria Academy
The Skinny: Cagliola will look to win her second straight district title, and she figures to be the big favorite. The senior has had a strong season that included a 18:53 at Paul Short and a second place finish at the PAC Champs. Hellenbrand, Ogawa, Cheeley have also run sub-20 this season, and Glunz is a former District 1 champion. All will be battling it out for spots in the top five.
The team race should be interesting with two state qualifying spots on the line. Lower Moreland has run well this season, and will shoot to take home the title. After that, it should be close between AACA runner-up Gwyneed-Mercy, third place team Villa Joseph Marie, and fourth place Villa Maria. Look for only a few points to separate some of these top teams.
District 1 Class AAA Girls - Race Preview
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 6
- State Qualifying Spots For Individuals: 30
Individuals To Watch: Madison Brown (Downingtown East); Anna Carruthers (Phoenixville); Lillian DiCola (Hatboro-Horsham); Brianna Jucewicz (CB South); Shana Kearney (Bensalem); Ellie Keefer (West Chester Rustin); Kenzie Padilla (Phoenixville); Ruby Schwelm (Penncrest); Emily Simko (Hatboro-Horsham); Carolyn Tarpley (Downingtown West); Ella Woehlcke (Springside Chestnut Hill); Claire Zubey (Owen J. Roberts)
Contending Teams: Central Bucks East; Conestoga; Downingtown East; Downingtown West; Haverford Township; Mount Saint Joseph Academy; Owen J. Roberts; Pennridge; Perkiomen Valley; Phoenixville Area; Strath Haven; West Chester Rustin
The Skinny: For the first time in three years there will be a new district champion in District 1. With Jenna Mulhern not competing in the PIAA this year, the door is open for a new champion. Zubey and Kearney are the top threats to fill that void. Both have clocked sub-18 times this season, but have yet to race head-to-head (they both raced at Paul Short, but in different races). It should be a good battle up front with the likes of Woehlcke, DiCola, Tarpley and Schwelm looking to challenge up front.
Mount Saint Joe's has been the class of District 1 this season, scoring big wins at Briarwood and Paul Short and a runner-up finish to PA No. 1 North Allegheny at Foundation. MSJA enters Friday as the big favorite to win the district title with some terrific depth to go around. Ches-Mont champs Downingtown West, Central League champs Strath Haven, and PAC champs Phoenixville also boast some solid depth and will aim to challenge for that top spot. Those four are good bets to crack the top six and qualify to the state meet, while OJR, Haverford, Conestoga, Rustin, and Perk Valley also have their sights set on a trip to Hershey.