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Introducing our first Girls Team Rankings of the 2024 Season. The season has not yet opened, but we can't wait to see teams at full force this year.
Starting the year in the top-spot is North Allegheny. The Tigers will be chasing a seventh straight PIAA Championship. Haverford Township and OJR look to play upset.
Please note - These early season Power Rankings are completely subjective and include some speculation.
Girls Top 20 Teams - Final Rankings
RANK | TEAM | RATIONALE & NOTES |
1 |
| The North Allegheny girls won their sixth straight PIAA 3A Title and are attempting to win a record seventh straight championship in 2024. North Allegheny graduated Eva Kynaston, and Erin McGoey and Maia Getz from their 2023 squad but have a steady stream of young ladies behind them. Wren Kucler (Sr) and Robin Kucler (Sr) will lead the squad in 2024. They are both contenders for the individual title. |
2 | Haverford was without Olivia Cieslak (Sr) at the 2023 PIAA 3A XC Championship, but the team still finished ninth with a 20:37 average. The squad's lineup looks nearly identical this year and with both Camryn McGeehan (Sr) and Cieslak expected to finish in the Top 10 at States, Haverford could have a chance to contend with North Allegheny. | |
3 |
| Fully expect Owen J. Roberts to be right in the mix with Haverford Township again this year. OJR won the District 1 Championship in 2023, but losing Jane Kratz (Sr) before the PIAA Championship caused the team to finish in 13th. OJR will return it's full line-up, including Ellie Thompson (So), Halle Kish (So), Amelie Blatz (Jr), Khya D'Angelo (Sr), Nora Horton (Jr) and Julia Karounos (So). Kratz will be a contender for the individual title. |
4 |
| Abington Heights had one of the tightest compressions at last year's PIAA Championship (28-seconds). They lost two of their top-five to graduation but expect Marley Gilboy (So) and Kiera Crowell (Jr) to fill those holes for Abington Heights. They were the No. 6 and No.7 runners for AH at last year's championship, but they both beat four runners from Haverford Township and two runners from OJR's squad. |
5 |
| Manheim Township lost Ava Shirk and Marina Papadimitriou to graduation but still have Elena Barrall (Sr), Lexie Kauffman and Riley McGahren to lead the 2024 unit. Combined, those three only scored 96 points at the 2023 PIAA Championship as the team went on to finish third overall. They also have Sarah Ebersole (Sr) who ran 2:18 over 800m, Kaila Atteberry (Jr) who ran 5:06 over 1600m and Piper Fogleman (So) who ran 5:27 over 1600m . |
6 |
| The entire 2023 Conestoga Squad will return for redemption after a seventh place finish at the District 1 Championship in 2023. The team narrowly missed qualification for the PIAA State Championship despite rising in the team ranks all year. Led by Alexia Tubbs (Jr), look for this squad to have a 60-second compression. Tubbs ran 10:57 over 3200m this spring. Lily Jones (Sr), Kayleigh Bender (Sr), Elizabeth Gares (Sr), Laura Traineau (Jr), Giovanna Porada (Jr), Madeline Rakes (Jr) and Sarah Crill (So) should round out the squad. |
7 | Unionville finished ninth at the District 1 Championship in 2024, but retain six of their starting seven. They were only 21 points away from a PIAA Championship berth in 2023. They'll be led by sisters Erin Rapin (Sr) and Cara Rapin (So). On the outdoor track, they posted 1600m times of 5:13 and 5:18 respectively. Clara Stancik (So) and Justine Smith (Jr) were right behind them with their times of 5:20 and 5:19. | |
8 | Mount Saint Joseph finished fourth at the PIAA 3A State Championship in 2023, but they lost their ace, Ella Woehlcke, to graduation. They retain the rest of their starters, including Katie Westmoreland (Sr) and Charli Schoen (So). They scored 20 and 26 points respectively at last year's state meet. | |
9 | Saint Marys Area retains six of their starting seven from the team that finished third at the PIAA Championship (2A) in 2023. Gabby Pistner (Sr) will return as the team's ace and she will be a contender for the individual title after finishing fifth in 2023. Saint Marys Area is currently the championship favorite in 2A. | |
10 |
| Freshman Neila Granger led the squad in 2023 and finished 31st at the PIAA Championship. Behind her, Dallastown will graduate a couple of seniors but also welcome incoming freshman Leah Navarro and Abby Evans. Navarro ran a 5:11 Mile at New Balance Nationals. Granger ran 5:10 over 1600m, and they also have Morgan Good (So) who ran 5:22. |
11 | State College earned a seventh place finish at the 3A State Final in 2023. They graduated Chloe Poindexter and Abigail Bigger but retained the rest of their top 7. Devon Jackson (Jr) secured a 13th place finish at last year's PIAA Championship and she will be instrumental as the teams No. 1 this year. Julia Bigger (Jr), Kristen Schellberg (Sr), Molly Dell (Jr), and Devyani Wadhia (Sr) will most likely round out the team's top 5. | |
12 | Norwin ended the 2023 season with a fifth place finish at the PIAA 3A Final and a 12th place finish at NXR Northeast. They'll be led by Annie Czajkowski (Jr) again this year, but they lost their second, third and fifth runner to graduation. Jillian Ryba (So), Addison Farrah (So) and Anna Dansak (So) will need to step-up to fill the gaps. Notably, those three all ran 5:34 or faster over 1600m, and Emily Dansak (So) joined them in that pursuit. They also have Anna Rakvic (Sr) in the wings. She ran 12:17 over 3200m. | |
13 | Easton could surprise some people in 2024. At the 2023 State Championship, they had the best compression in 3A. A mere 24-seconds separated their first and sixth runners. Five of those top six will be back this year; including Lama Mahmoud (Jr), Faith Belote (Sr), Nishi Patel (Sr), Vivian Clark (So) and Elena Brunetti (So). Packs win Cross Country races. | |
14 | Downingtown East was another young squad with a tight compression. At the 2023 District 1 Championship, the team finished 14th with a 24-second 1-5 split. They were led by three freshman; Ashley Dougherty, Emily Lindsay and Kristen Iannacchione. With their full starting seven returning, they could find themselves among the best teams in the state this year. | |
15 | Behind Ashley Landis (Sr), Pennridge finished 10th at the 2023 PIAA XC Championship. The Rams lose Veronica Gula and Maria Lera-Lozano to graduation; but retain the aforementioned Landis, Taylor Burkett (Sr), Kaegan Smith (Sr), Jessica Lackner (So), and Grace Santos (Jr). | |
16 |
| The full Downingtown West starting seven will return in 2024. On the track, Maggie Tarpley (So), Sarah Pearson (So), Liya Pathappillil (So) and Riley Dortone (Sr) all ran 5:35 or faster over 1600m. Tarpley also ran 11:20 over 3200m. The Whippets also have Gabriella Miller (Jr) and Morgan Bayley (Jr) who both ran 2:21 over 800m this spring. |
17 |
| Emmaus continues to be a fixture in the PA Top 20. In 2023, Emmaus finished 14th at the PIAA Championship. Four of last year's starting seven will be on the course this year, including Madelyn McCartney (Jr) who finished 25th overall in 2023. Payton Campbell (Sr) will also be in the mix. |
18 |
| Chambersburg finished 11th at the PIAA Championship in 2023 and retain five of their starting seven from that squad. Madelyn Koons (Jr) and Brook Boone (So) will lead the squad in 2024. Koons ran 11:29 over 3200m during the outdoor track season. |
19 |
| Lower Dauphin finished 19th at the PIAA 3A Championship last year. In 2024, they return six of their starting seven from that race; Lauren Gula (Sr), Torree Robertson (Jr), Ella Neide (So), Nina Francis (So), Emily Zserai (Jr), and Olivia Fureman (Jr). |
20 | Gwen Hamilton (Jr) transferred to Penn Charter and will join forces with Alli DeLisi (Sr). That is now one of the best duos in the state. Penn Charter will look to improve on depth behind them. | |
NR | Teams on the Bubble (NR) | Exeter, Great Valley, Upper Dublin, South Fayette, Lewisburg |
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