McKeesport, Pa. – The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) hosted the WPIAL/UPMC Sports Medicine Girls’ Cross Country Championships on Thursday, Oct. 23 at White Oak Park in McKeesport.
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Boys’ Cross Country Championships will be held on Saturday, Nov. 1, at Parkview Cross Country Course in Hershey. WPIAL qualifiers include the top three teams and the top 15 individual runners outside those teams in Classes 1A and 3A, and the top four teams and top 20 individual runners outside those teams in Class 2A.
CLASS 3A RECAP
South Fayette sophomore Angela Zeng captured the individual title at the 3A Girls Cross Country Championship with a time of 17:49.70, marking the first individual championship for the program since 2009.
Despite Zeng’s win, Norwin’s depth propelled the team to victory, earning the first team title for the Knights since 2009 with 36 points. Norwin was led by Emily Dansak (3rd, 18:26.00), Annie Czajkowski (5th, 18:27.40), and Jillian Ryba (6th, 18:30.30), whose strong finishes put the Knights well ahead of the competition.
Fox Chapel Area finished second with 93 points, while South Fayette claimed third with 119 points, rounding out a highly competitive race. Other notable top-10 finishers included Piper Munyon (Gateway, 2nd, 18:17.70), Hailey Long (Mars Area, 4th, 18:26.50), Annabel Johnson (Woodland Hills, 7th, 18:35.90), Chesnee Smith (Hempfield Area, 8th, 18:39.20), Adelaide Lulich (Peters Township, 9th, 18:39.70), and Camryn Bruno (West Allegheny, 10th, 18:40.20).
The combination of Zeng’s historic individual win and Norwin’s first team championship in over a decade highlighted a standout day for WPIAL girls’ cross country.
CLASS 2A RECAP
Hampton junior Rebekah Hall captured the individual title at the 2A Girls Cross Country Championship with a time of 19:10.60, earning Hampton’s first individual championship since 1998.
In the team competition, North Catholic claimed the team title, improving on last year’s second-place finish. The Vikings’ strong lineup included Madeline Meeuf (2nd, 19:22.20), Sydney Dunn (4th, 19:28.50), and Anna Morris (9th, 19:56.00), helping North Catholic to 45 points and the top spot in a competitive field.
Quaker Valley finished second with 144 points, while Indiana Area took third with 162 points. Other top finishers included Annie Leland (Oakland Catholic, 3rd, 19:27.00), Isabella Baker (Laurel Highlands, 5th, 19:37.00), Natalie Zolinas (Knoch, 6th, 19:42.80), Brooklyn Steeber (Belle Vernon, 7th, 19:45.60), and Raegan Ruckus (Burrell, 8th, 19:54.50).
CLASS 1A RECAP
Shady Side Academy dominated the 1A Girls Cross Country Championship, claiming both the team and individual titles. Junior Charlotte Barker led the way with a winning time of 18:38.50, marking Shady Side’s first individual champion since 2022. Freshman Josephine Lenart finished second (18:39.70), giving the team a strong one-two punch.
The team competition saw Shady Side’s depth shine, as Ella Van Norman (9th, 19:51.70) and Rhyley Bendel (10th, 19:56.10) contributed to the first team championship for the school since 2008, finishing with 35 points.
Winchester Thurston placed second with 48 points, led by Abigail Weinstein (3rd, 18:47.80) and Currence Bigham (4th, 19:03.70), while Our Lady of Sacred Heart rounded out the podium in third with 64 points, paced by Jules Goshen (5th, 19:29.10) and Hannah Hayes (6th, 19:33.10).
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