District 9 Class A Girls - Race Preview
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 2
- State Qualifying Spots For Individuals: 10
Individuals To Watch: Sophia Bille (Elk County Catholic); Jenna Gregory (Smethport); Courtney Martin (Northern Potter); Morgan McNaughton (Clarion Limestone); Cheyenne Mehl (Oswayo Valley); Grace Neubert (Elk County Catholic); Karleigh Shaffer (Cranberry)
Contending Teams: Brockway Area; Clarion Limestone; Cranberry; Elk County Catholic; North Clarion
The Skinny: The individual race will be a close one as Gregory and McNaughton will be the two favorites. McNaughton got the best of Gregory at the Ridgway Invite on the district course earlier this month by just .30, so the encore could create some good fireworks, with both girls chasing the title. Martin and Neubert weren't too far behind them at that race, so they'll be worth watching for, along with Mehl.
There are two state spots up for grabs for teams, and this battle should be close as well. Elk County Catholic was the top 1A squad at Ridgway, a few points ahead of Cranberry. It'll be a rematch between those two squads, though both will be the favorites to take those two state qualifying spots. Clarion Limestone leads the contingent of teams hoping to challenge for a spot in the top two.
District 9 Class AA Girls - Race Preview
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 1
- State Qualifying Spots For Individuals: 5
Individuals To Watch: Madison Blythe (Saint Marys); Korie Dixon (Bradford); Gabby Pistner (Saint Marys); Amy Poole (Punxsutawney); Caitlyn Taylor (Bradford)
Contending Teams: Bradford Area; Punxsutawney Area; Saint Marys Area
The Skinny: After taking the district title last year, Dixon will look to make it two-in-a-row in District 9 AA. The sophomore was fourth at the state meet. She enters Saturday as the big district favorite before moving onto Hershey, where she'll look for another big performance. The team race will be a good battle with just one state qualifying spot on the line. Bradford was second at the Ridgway Invite, two spots and just five points ahead of Punxsutawney. Saint Marys is a bit of an unknown entity here, but we can expect them to keep it close. The title is really up for grabs and it will be a very close race with the stakes at their highest.