PENNSYLVANIA STATE MEET

Mia Cochran Wins Third Consecutive AAA Crown

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Photos courtesy Dr. Jim Freeman

North Allegheny's hold on the state of Pennsylvania was reaffirmed on Saturday at the PIAA Cross Country Championships in Hershey. 

For the second year in a row, North Allegheny swept the Class AAA boys and girls team championships. For the girls, it was the third straight title. For the boys, it's the third in four years. 

The North Allegheny girls scored 62 points with a lineup that included four freshmen and two sophomores. Eva Kynaston, a sophomore, and Wren Kucler, a freshman, finished fifth and sixth overall to lead the Tigers. 

The boys team put five in the top 31, including senior Scott Nalepa (eighth) and freshman Jack Bertram (13th) on the way to 63 points.  

Butler Area duo senior CJ Singleton and sophomore Drew Griffith went 1-2 in the boys AAA race and were the only finishers under 16 minutes. Singleton, who ran 15:52.9, was sixth in 2020. 

Moon Area senior Mia Cochran, an Arkansas commit, won her third consecutive AAA individual title in 18:08.5. She is the first three-time winner of the AAA race since Janelle Thomas of Liberty (1992, 1994-95). Marlee Starliper of Northern was a three-time consecutive winner at the AA level. 

Gary Martin of Archibishop Wood Catholic, a University of Virginia recruit, won his second straight title and posted the fastest time of the day with 15:46.7. 

Lewisburg Area won its third straight boys AA team title, scoring 87 points. The team was led by Jacob Hess' third-place finish. 

Junior Harley Kletz placed third to lead Montour to its first ever state championship in cross country. 

Olivia Haas of Blue Mountain, a senior, won the AA race in 18:20.3 -- second-fastest of the day behind Cochran. It was her second straight title and her margin of victory was 30 seconds. 

Hughesville won the Class A boys title with 97 points. Junior Thomas Smigo of Palisades won the race in 16:31.1.

Notre Dame Green Pond's top four came in together between 43rd and 48th place, and fifth runner Serena Azzalina was 95th, as the team won its first title with 117 points.  Senior Anna Stitzer of Penns Valley won the race in 19:32.0.

Team Champions - 

AAA - North Allegheny boys 63 points, North Allegheny girls 62 points - RESULTS

AA - Lewisburg Area boys 87 points, Montour girls 84 points - RESULTS

A - Hughesville boys 97 points, Notre Dame Green Pond girls 117 points - RESULTS