Christina Morelli, now a junior, is back for St. Basil without older sister Lynn. 
In the team race, Saint Basil, last years champion, is the team to beat, as they return 5 of 7 runners, including their top two, juniors Christina Morelli and Kathleen Davies and 4 of the scoring 5. Of course, they'll have to get out of District 1, where only one AA team advances. This year's battle will include the usually strong teams from Gwynedd Mercy and Christopher Dock. Gwynedd lost two great runners in Kate Vernon and Khaki Mealey, but has five back, plus frosh Taylor Bumpas who has run 2:19 for the 800. Wyomissing returns 4 runners from last year's runner-up team, led by sophomore Nicolette Miller, who was 20th last year, and should contend for another top-3 finish. 3rd place Wellsboro returns 5 including their top 3 from last year, and should be a force in this year's race. Two teams with a chance to crack the top-3 are Dallas, 4th last year, and Tulpehocken, 5th last year. Both teams return 6 runners. Dallas is led by senior Lisa Giacometti, 17th last year, and Tulpehocken is led by 3 sophomores, Hillary Nykwest, 38th last year, Kara Pendelton, 75th last year, and Stacey Manbeck, 92nd. And Elk County is always strong.
Rachel Erny (center) and Kacey Gibson (left) went 1st and 3rd as frosh.
There will be a big pack at the front this year.
In the individual race, 13 of the top-20 from last year are returning. They are led by sophomore Rachel Erny, who won in 2004 with the fastest time of the day. She then followed on title up with another as she took the outdoor 3200 win in 10:59.06. She is followed by 5 sophomores, 4 juniors, and 3 seniors, all with hopes of a title of their own. The sophomores include Kacey Gibson, Neshannock; Elicia Anderson, Eastern York; Katie Ruth, Lancaster Mennonite; Kara Millhouse, Boiling Springs; and Nicolette Miller, Wyomissing.
Gibson was 3rd last year, and 11th in the outdoor 3200 in 11:24.68. Anderson was 7th last year. Ruth was 10th. Millhouse was 13th last year, and 2nd in the outdoor 3200 in 11:01.50. Miller was 20th last year.
The juniors include Katie Shelley, Columbia; Beth Tatomirovich, Mercer; Christina Morelli, Saint Basil; and Alexa Griffiths, Tamaqua. Shelley was 5th last year, and 5th in the outdoor 3200 in 11:11.53. Tatomiroviich was 6th in 2004, and 7th in the outdoor 1600 in 5:18.26. Morelli was 9th last year, and 6th in the outdoor 1600 in 5:14.36. And Griffiths was 14th last year, and 12th in the outdoor 3200 in 11:29.54.
The top returning seniors are Anna Hoffman, Mohawk; Lisa Giacometti, Dallas; and Mary Brady, Danville. Hoffman was 4th last year; Giacometti was 17th, and Brady was 19th.
And of course, we all know there will be some incredible freshmen coming along, plus some upperclassmen who will hit their stride just in time for States. Expect the group above to have plenty of company at the front.
TOP TEN TEAMS, TOP 50 INDIVIDUALS FROM 2004
1. Saint Basil (1)
6 2 Christina Morelli, So 19:31 6:18
7 12 Kathleen Davies, So 19:59 6:27
1 13 Lynn Morelli, Sr 20:01 6:27
8 15 Rachel Morelli, Fr 20:11 6:30
3 46 Kelsey Kohler, Jr 21:20 6:53
2 71 Laura O'Donnell, Sr 21:52 7:03
5 104 Kate Conroy, Jr 22:30 7:15
Time = 1:40:59 Places = 88
2. Wyomissing (3)
64 1 Karen Rogers, Sr 19:28 6:17
62 8 Nicolette Miller, Fr 19:48 6:23
65 23 Jess Schlegel, Sr 20:39 6:40
63 27 Victoria Poteiger, Fr 20:44 6:41
66 49 Megan Shadduck, Fr 21:25 6:54
61 51 Sarah Helinek, Jr 21:30 6:56
67 56 Mallory Zintak, Sr 21:36 6:58
Time = 1:42:03 Places = 108
3. Wellsboro (4)
91 10 Heather Sayre, So 19:55 6:25
93 17 Dailyn Cooney, Jr 20:17 6:32
92 26 Emily Osgood, Jr 20:43 6:41
94 31 Renee Rogers, Sr 20:50 6:43
95 43 Katelin Peropat, Fr 21:10 6:49
96 76 Marla Rice, Sr 21:55 7:04
97 134 Mallory Mosher, Jr 23:39 7:37
Time = 1:42:53 Places = 127
4. Dallas (2)
14 5 Lisa Giacometti, Jr 19:43 6:22
16 19 Jessica Jones, Sr 20:25 6:35
17 24 Kenslie Kerestes, So 20:41 6:40
15 35 Hillary Adams, Jr 20:58 6:46
18 82 Robin Razawich, Jr 22:03 7:07
20 113 Kasia Szulborski, Fr 22:48 7:21
19 116 Katie Gilligan, So 23:04 7:26
Time = 1:43:49 Places = 165
5. Tulpehocken (3)
72 16 Hillary Nykwest, Fr 20:14 6:31
73 34 Kara Pendelton, Fr 20:56 6:45
70 41 Stacey Manbeck, Fr 21:08 6:49
71 47 Vanessa Manbeck, Jr 21:21 6:53
74 53 Cortney Thomas, Sr 21:31 6:56
68 57 Ashleigh Dunlap, Jr 21:37 6:58
69 98 Talasha Karish, Jr 22:19 7:12
Time = 1:45:08 Places = 191
6. York Suburban (3)
56 9 Emily Perina, So 19:49 6:23
52 11 Christina Antonopoulos, Sr 19:57 6:26
53 14 Yianna Antonopoulos, Sr 20:07 6:29
55 73 Whitney McIntosh, Sr 21:53 7:03
58 119 Elaine Vanhouwe, So 23:11 7:29
57 147 Emily Smith, Jr 24:20 7:51
54 148 Emily Kranias, Fr 24:23 7:52
Time = 1:44:55 Places = 226
7. Danville (4)
99 7 Mary Brady, Jr 19:47 6:23
100 25 Katie Reidinger, Sr 20:42 6:40
101 55 Ryann Kishbaugh, Jr 21:34 6:57
102 67 Ashley Leberfinger, Jr 21:47 7:02
103 106 Sarah Erb, So 22:35 7:17
104 123 Aurora Shirley, Fr 23:15 7:30
105 132 Jessica Quiery, Fr 23:35 7:36
Time = 1:46:24 Places = 260
8. Elk County Catholic 8
208 6 Maureen Newell, Sr 19:46 6:23
209 36 Sandy Newell, Jr 20:59 6:46
210 75 Chelsea Bloam, So 21:53 7:03
211 79 Erica Brazinski, Jr 22:00 7:06
213 96 Rachel Gregory, Jr 22:16 7:11
212 101 Megan Goetz, Jr 22:23 7:13
215 152 Kelly Cunningham, Sr 24:36 7:56
Time = 1:46:53 Places = 292
9. Tamaqua (11)
273 4 Alexa Griffiths, So 19:40 6:20
275 40 Katie Hartman, Jr 21:07 6:49
274 72 Ashley Stanek, Sr 21:52 7:03
276 85 Diana Thomas, So 22:07 7:08
279 103 Amanda Kane, Sr 22:29 7:15
278 108 Shannon Hoben, So 22:38 7:18
277 135 Jessica Baran, Sr 23:39 7:38
Time = 1:47:14 Places = 304
10. Villa Maria (10)
234 32 Erin Heidecker, Jr 20:55 6:45
237 58 Hanna Bicary, Fr 21:39 6:59
236 61 Leigh Szoszorek, Jr 21:46 7:01
235 69 Whitney Putnam, Jr 21:49 7:02
239 91 Sara Newell, Fr 22:11 7:09
238 115 Jenna Fatcia, So 22:58 7:24
240 139 Ashley Toale, Sr 23:54 7:43
Time = 1:48:18 Places = 311
TEAM
ID# PLACE SCORE FINISHER TIME PACE TEAM
190 1 Rachel Erny, Fr 18:50 6:04 Brentwood (7)
40 2 Jessica Squier, Sr 18:57 6:06 Elk Lake (2)
203 3 Kacey Gibson, Fr 19:06 6:10 Neshannock (7)
200 4 Anna Hoffman, Jr 19:22 6:15 Mohawk (7)
79 5 Katie Shelley, So 19:25 6:16 Columbia (3)
266 6 Beth Tatomirovich, So 19:25 6:16 Mercer (10)
80 7 Elicia Anderson, Fr 19:26 6:16 Eastern York (3)
64 8 1 Karen Rogers, Sr 19:28 6:17 Wyomissing (3)
6 9 2 Christina Morelli, So 19:31 6:18 Saint Basil (1)
84 10 Katie Ruth, Fr 19:32 6:18 Lancaster Mennonite 3
265 11 Nichole Smith, Sr 19:33 6:18 Mercer (10)
180 12 3 Katie Roll, Sr 19:35 6:19 Shadyside Academy (7)
78 13 Kara Milhouse, Fr 19:38 6:20 Boiling Springs (3)
273 14 4 Alexa Griffiths, So 19:40 6:20 Tamaqua (11)
115 15 Shannon Hoffman, Sr 19:40 6:21 Warrior Run (4)
111 16 Ashley Shuck, Sr 19:42 6:21 Milton (4)
14 17 5 Lisa Giacometti, Jr 19:43 6:22 Dallas (2)
208 18 6 Maureen Newell, Sr 19:46 6:23 Elk County Catholic 8
99 19 7 Mary Brady, Jr 19:47 6:23 Danville (4)
62 20 8 Nicolette Miller, Fr 19:48 6:23 Wyomissing (3)
56 21 9 Emily Perina, So 19:49 6:23 York Suburban (3)
90 22 Chelsea Brett, So 19:49 6:24 Trinity (3)
9 23 Beth Lambright, Fr 19:51 6:24 Christopher Dock (1)
109 24 Tricia Learn, Sr 19:53 6:25 Mansfield (4)
91 25 10 Heather Sayre, So 19:55 6:25 Wellsboro (4)
52 26 11 Christina Antonopoulos, Sr 19:57 6:26 York Suburban (3)
7 27 12 Kathleen Davies, So 19:59 6:27 Saint Basil (1)
1 28 13 Lynn Morelli, Sr 20:01 6:27 Saint Basil (1)
259 29 Aryn Gruneisen, Sr 20:05 6:29 Fairview (10)
13 30 Faye Korich, Sr 20:06 6:29 Springfield Montco 1
53 31 14 Yianna Antonopoulos, Sr 20:07 6:29 York Suburban (3)
48 32 Tara Chiarella, So 20:10 6:30 Montrose (2)
268 33 Mary Kay Bojarski, Jr 20:11 6:30 North East (10)
8 34 15 Rachel Morelli, Fr 20:11 6:30 Saint Basil (1)
86 35 Lisa Wingard, Fr 20:12 6:31 Lancaster Mennonite 3
112 36 Rebekah Schrader, Sr 20:12 6:31 Towanda (4)
193 37 Janet Carson, Jr 20:13 6:31 Ellwood City (7)
72 38 16 Hillary Nykwest, Fr 20:14 6:31 Tulpehocken (3)
93 39 17 Dailyn Cooney, Jr 20:17 6:32 Wellsboro (4)
77 40 Chelsea Lacko, Jr 20:21 6:34 Bishop McDevitt (3)
117 41 18 Ashley Wilson, Jr 20:21 6:34 Bedford (5)
85 42 Lindsey Shertzer, So 20:22 6:34 Lancaster Mennonite 3
267 43 Melissa Smith, Fr 20:25 6:35 Mercer (10)
16 44 19 Jessica Jones, Sr 20:25 6:35 Dallas (2)
138 45 20 Cassie Neibel, Sr 20:26 6:35 Penns Valley (6)
230 46 Ali Mertsock, Jr 20:27 6:36 Oswayo Valley (9)
294 47 Dana Stellar, Jr 20:28 6:36 N W Lehigh (11)
270 48 Stephanie Genis, Sr 20:28 6:36 Sharon (10)
172 49 21 Chelsea Hanne, Jr 20:30 6:37 Center (7)
258 50 Jenny Bailey, Sr 20:31 6:37 Corry (10)