PENNSYLVANIA STATE MEET

North Allegheny Boys And Girls Make It A Sweep Three-peat In Class AAA

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

While the star runners may cycle through, one consistent name at the Pennsylvania state cross country championships is North Allegheny. Saturday at the PIAA State Championships in Hershey, the Tigers boys and girls swept the Class AAA titles once again. 

The girls cruised to their fifth straight title with 60 points as sophomore Wren Kucler paced the team with a third place finish (18:58.50) and three more of her teammates were in the top 25. Senior Natalie McLean of Pine-Richland won the 3A title in 18:46.10, while State College was second as a team with 113 points. 

The North Allegheny boys scored 85 points to win their third consecutive Class 3A championship. La Salle College was second with 161 points. Sophomore Jack Bertram was North Allegheny’s top finisher in third place (16:09.70). Hatboro Horsham senior Brian DiCola, a Penn State signee, ran the fastest time on the 5,000-meter course, winning the title in a blistering 15:24.20.

North Carolina State recruit Jolena Quarzo won her first state title, and in convincing fashion. The Brownsville’s senior claimed the Class 2A title in 18:11.3, more than 30 seconds faster than the next runner. The team race was a lot closer as Cathedral Prep scored 111 points to beat Danville (115). The top four teams were separated by just nine points.

Grove City (67 points) won the Class 2A boys championship. The team placed two in the top 10. Individually, Rory Lieberman won the race in 15:53.60, the only runner under 16 minutes. 

It was a dramatic start to the state championships as the Notre Dame Green Pond and Montrose girls both scored 78 points to tie for the Class 1A team title. Ninth grader Virginia Kraus of Moravian Academy dominated the race, winning in 18:54.

Senior Thomas Smigo of Palisades claimed the Class 1A crown in 16:33.40. Central Cambria won the team championship with 95 points. 

Team Champions

Class 3A: North Allegheny boys 85 points; North Allegheny girls 60 points - RESULTS

Class 2A: Grove City boys 67 points; Cathedral Prep girls 111 points - RESULTS

Class 1A: Central Cambria boys 95 points; Notre Dame Green Pond, Montrose girls 78 points - RESULTS