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PA Pre-Season Preview Central
AA Girls | AAA Girls | PA# 1 Girls: Pennsbury |
AA Boys| AAA Boys | PA#1 Boys: Altoona
Pre-Season Rankings are posted on each story
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Central Cambria is looking to become the first team
since 1981 to win four straight AA team titles.
Central Cambria gave PA cross country fans very little drama in clinching their history making 3rd consecutive cross country AA girls state team title last season. The team was a great mix of experience and young talent who contributed right away. Once again they return five of the seven who won the title last year, and this year they can make even more history. Central Cambria will be looking to become the first team since the 1999-2002 Wyomissing girls won four straight AA team titles. That streak was snapped by North East HS in 1982.
Ironically, North East enters the 2010 season with their entire 2009 top seven that finished 7th in 2009, and will be one of the favorites to knock off the champions. Two time champions St Basil’s Academy graduated Liz Barrett, but return the rest of the seven that finished 5th. Quaker Valley (14th in 2009) return five of their seven state runners, and seven runners who broke 22 minutes last season. Christopher Dock comes back with an all senior top five led by 800 meter runner up Janine Powis; and although private, small school Academy of Notre Dame returns several of PA's top runners, leading a squad that was a mainstay in the top seven in PA for all of 2009.
One of the bright shining stars of the 2009-2010 season was Homer Center’s Angel Piccirillo. The reigning state indoor mile, state outdoor AA 1600, and Penn Relays mile champion was one of the best in the state in both classes, setting personal bests of 4:53.11 for the mile and 2:11.19 for the 800 meters. She finished fifth last year in cross country in her first XC campaign, and will be the favorite to continue her winning ways and win the individual title in 2010.
Despite finishing 24th last year, Leah Anne Wirfel of Forest Hills had the fastest AA cross country 5k time last season with her 18:13 performance from her conference championship and she was 3rd in the AA 3200 meter run.
She and Alyssa Brandeis of Central Cambria (4th last season) will be Angel’s biggest challengers. Maria Trowbridge of Elk Lake (9th), Kady Schrann of York Catholic (10th) and Allison Hall of Blue Ridge (11th) round out the top five returners from last year’s state championships.
AA Girls Returning Medalists
Alyssa Brandis of Central Cambria (4th)
Angel Piccirillo of Homer Center (5th)
Maria Trowbridge of Elk Lake (9th)
Kady Schrann of York Catholic (10th)
Allison Hall of Blue Ridge (11th)
Amber Carroll of Tamaqua (12th)
Bridgit Walters of Northgate (15th)
Emily Moroco of Reynolds (18th)
Katie Hallingstad of Northwest Lehigh (21st)
Hilliard Rachel of South Side (22nd)
Dana Cerroni of Sharon (23rd)
Leah Anne Wirfel of Forest Hills (24th)
Kendall Seymour of Central Cambria (25th)
PTXC Pre-Season - Girls Small School
1. Central Cambria
2. North East
3. Notre Dame
4. St Basil's
5. Quaker Valley
