AA GIRLS
Click here to read the Pre-Season Previews by Aaron Rich
(Just so you can see then vs. now)
Last year's frustration of missing qualification for States by a mere two points will be forgotten by Saint Basil. This is their year, individually and as a team. The defending champs from Dallas could give them a scare, but Basil's 19:08 average at the District 1 race was so dominant, only one team in the state is running better, and that's the #5 team in the Northeast US, Unionville. Saint Basil's 2:01 spread could widen a bit, but it shouldn't matter, because they'll start with one point from Lynn Morelli. The senior appears as focused and as fit as she has ever been, and ran a controlled race through two miles before opening an insurmountable lead in her district race. Her sophomore sister Christina is running 2nd, and last year's other state qualifier Kathleen Davis is running 3rd. If frosh sister Rachel is able to run closer to her older siblings as she was earlier in the season, this could be the most dominant race of the day. In addition to Dallas, other teams who could catch Saint Basil should they falter include York Suburban from D3, Wellsboro from D4, or Tamaqua from D11.
2004 District Results:
D1: Saint Basil Academy 38 1 3 6 12 16 19 31 19:08 2:01
D2: Dallas 36 1 4 5 6 20 30 32 20:34 2:09
D3: York Suburban 69 4 5 8 14 38 70 84 Total Time: 1:42:04.10 Average:20:24.82
Individually, Lynn Morelli should get a state title. Her 18:07 at the Lehigh course was only surpassed by Unionville's Katie Thaeder. But the race won't be easy, because there are plenty of challengers. Dallas #1 Lisa Giacomettii and fellow D2 runner Tara Chiarella of Montrose are running well. From D3, the three frosh who stole the show on 10/30 include Kara Millhouse, Boiling Springs, Elicia Anderson of Eastern York, and Katie Ruth of Lancaster Menonite. They have somewhat of an advantage, having raced on the course last week. From D7, Rachel Erny, a Brentwood freshman, should be in the mix, as well as D10's Nicole Smith. D11's top runners include Dana Stellar of Northwestern Lehigh, and Alexa Griffiths of Tamaqua.
8/20-Gwynedd-Mercy as NE #4 leads AA girls XC, Liz Kearins individual favorite
For the team title it seems as though Gwynedd Mercy has the guns to win a state championship. They return 4 finishers from their 4th place team last year, senior Kahki Mealey, junior Caitlin McEldrew, sophomore Jessica Drewicz, and senior Chrissy Zataveski. Also returning is senior Kate Vernon, a very talented runner who was overcome with dehydration and did not finish in 2003. But that's not all. A surprise for this team is that sophomore Liz Kearins, from Central Bucks West, 3rd in the AAA race in 2003 as a freshman and a 2:12 two-lap AAA champ at states in the spring, has enrolled at Gwynedd Mercy. That addition, plus all the other returning talent, was enough to move them to #4 in the Northeast US in the pre-season Harrier/NTN poll just behind #3 Hatboro-Horsham. Also looking to make the team is freshmen Kelly McEldrew, who has 8th grade pr's of 2:18 for 800, and 5:10 for the mile. This is one deep squad. (Who said Meet of Champs in PA!?)
Last year's champion Dallas looks to be good again as they return 5 runners, including junior Lisa Giacometti, who was 6th as their top runner. They do lose their # 2 and 3 runners. Wellsboro, 2nd last year, looks like the depth chart will help them out as they have 6 of their top 7 returning. Wyomissing, 3rd in 2003, has 5 returning as they look for another good showing at states. But both Wellsboro and Wyo lose their #1 runners.
The individual title race looks quite a bit different this year with the addition of Kearins (2:12.62 semi, 2:12.98 finals for 1st AAA 800). She was 37 seconds better that day than the top returning AA runner, Jessica Squier of Elk Lake, who reportedly has had a fantastic summer of training and is aiming for another breakout year. Another favorite has to be Kate Vernon, a senior from Gwynedd Mercy, (2:15.01 / 5:00.98, both 1st AA) whose hopes were dashed last year by dehydration, plus teammate Kahki Mealey (5:02.11 2nd). Other challengers look to be senior Nichole Smith from Mercer, who was 5th, junior Lisa Giacometti from Dallas, who was 6th, junior Lindsay Petri from General McLane, who was 7th, senior Lynn Morelli and sophomore Christine Morelli from St. Basil, who were 8th and 9th respectively, and senior Tricia Learn from Mansfield, who was 10th in 2003.