"I wish I were back in high school. I was a mudder, and this is beautiful." -- Meet director Vince Wojnar of the Wyoming Valley Striders had that look in his eyes as he scanned the saturated Scranton Municipal Golf Course layout, site of the PIAA District 2 Championships. From soggy start, through muddy turns, to a welcome finish, the athletes gave it their best, although at times it looked (and probably felt) like they were moving in slow motion. Did we say their was wind, and that it was really cold? The top runners seemed to take care of business, although they looked like they had been around the course twice, something impossible to avoid on the two-loop layout.
The Dallas girls, minus their #4 girl, survived the muck and wind and yes, snow flurries for their race, to win the AA Girls title over great team races from Lake-Lehman and Blue Ridge (65-97-99). Dallas' top three took it out hard, rounding the first turn to head up a long hill in front. Senior Lisa Giacometti would gap her teammates and the field by the halfway point, pulling away to win in 20:52. Kenslie Kersetes took second for Dallas, with Hillary Adams 6th.
The AA Boys race was a romp for defending state champs Scranton Prep. They used a 48-second compression, taking 4th, 5th, 6th, 10th and 14th to tally just 39 points. Pat McDonough led the Prep with his 17:37. Lakeland's Mark Bucklaw and Kyle Pepson went one-two in 17:15 and 17:21, respectively.
The AAA Girls race was won by Hazleton, despite the absence of their #1 runner, Maria Monks, who is out for the season with a back injury. But her teammates stepped it up and delivered behind the 5th place finish of junior Amanda Radishofski in 21:30. The 19-point win came over Wallenpaupack, which took the top two spots as Jessica Hunter ran 20:12 (the best time of the day) and Rachel Schmalzle, a freshman, went 20:58. Abington Heights was just two points back in 3rd.
Abington Heights had started the race-day out with a 17-point margin of victory over Hazleton in the AAA Boys race behind the 6th and 7th place finishes of Alex Higley in 17:46 and Ryan Caputo, a second later. Wallenpaupack's Keviin Sives ran 17:12 for the win, the fastest time of the day.
At halfway, Sives still has Mike Guest, Hazleton,
and Sean Craig, Honesdale, for company.
Sives' finish in 17:12, the best of the day.
Alex Higley and Ryan Caputo
finish 6th and 7th to lead Abington Heights to the AAA win.
Jessica Hunter and Rachel Schmalzle,
Wallenpaupack, lead early.
Hunter has gapped the field at halfway.
And wins the the fastest time of the day, 20:12.
Amamda Radishofski , Hazleton, follows Delaware Valley's
Jessica Koenig for 5th, leading Hazleton to a team title.
The start of the AA race.
Lakeland's Mark Bucklaw has control at 1.5 miles.
His 17:15 was 2nd best on the day.
Pat McDonough was 4th to lead Scranton Prep to the win.
Doug Gibbons was 5th for Scranton Prep,
with teammate Shamus McGuigan four seconds back.
The Dallas game plan was to make everyone chase in the mud.
And it was spread out early because of the tactic.
Lisa Giacometti opes a gap.
And wins comfortably.