These are some of the teams and runners to watch this fall in District 10 cross country
It’s uncertain if Cathedral Prep’s girls cross country team can, or will, repeat as the PIAA’s best at its Class 2A level.
The 2022 Ramblers, many of whom competed for the former Villa Maria Victors, prevailed in that specific field Nov. 5 at Hershey. They totaled 111 points to Danville’s 115.
However, the drama that morning at Parkview Cross Country Course wasn’t so much Prep’s margin of victory but that the first-year program won at all.
Although the Ramblers were expected to contend at states, that was before their best runner, Sarah Clark, experienced the flu and others were hindered by injuries to varying degrees.
Despite their various ailments, Prep won a state title coach Therese Brown confessed to the Erie Times-News that day she couldn’t fathom would happen.
“There’s no way this team that stepped up to the (starting) line had any business beating all those teams,” she said. “Last week (after districts), yes, we did. But (once at states), we were so vulnerable.
“This was kind of miraculous. I never would have guessed this. Never.”
Clark was part of Prep’s inaugural coed graduating class earlier this year. She enrolled at Virginia’s George Mason University, where she’ll run cross country for the Patriots.
Sophomore Anne-Catherine Brown, Therese Brown’s daughter, is back for the 2023 Ramblers. Her time of 20 minutes, 9.1 seconds was Prep’s fastest during last fall’s state appearance.
Also due back for Prep are seniors Lauren Raimy and Rue Burkett, and juniors Allison Bender and Sarah Teed.
Eagles could soar again
Grove City’s boys cross country and track runners are long-established District 10 contenders.
The Eagles’ success in the former competition went beyond northwestern Pennsylvania last year. That’s when they claimed first place in the 2A PIAA team standings.
Grove City, by a 61-point margin, joined West Middlesex’s 2006 boys team as cross country state champions from Mercer County. M.J. Pottinger and Josh Jones also were individual medalists for the Eagles.
Jones graduated this spring. He’s about to start his freshman season as a runner for Youngstown (Ohio) State.
However, Pottinger is back as a junior. The Erie Times-News preseason male cross country runner of the year was the fastest of the Eagles’ top five runners at states.
Pottinger completed Hershey’s Parkview Cross Country Course in 16:33.9, which was good for fifth place in a field of 247.
The good news for Grove City’s current team doesn’t end with Pottinger’s return. The Eagles also return seniors Quinn McKnight and Wyatt Shepson, and junior Isaiah Stauff and Colsen Frank, in their bid to repeat as PIAA 2A titlists.
Viccari victorious in district debut
AnnaSophia Viccari of West Middlesex, the Times-News preseason female cross country runner of the year, matched Pottinger as the district’s best individual runner based on 2022 PIAA results.
She’s also the district’s most notable female returnee.
Viccari, now a sophomore, came in fifth in the state’s Class 1A girls race. Her time was 20:05.3.
A week earlier, Viccari was a gold medalist in her initial varsity postseason event. She won the district’s small-school final, held at Titusville’s Ed Myer Complex, in 18:43.
A Friday at Frontier
The Northwest Pennsylvania Invitational, although not a postseason meet, has a feel of one because it’s scheduled the weekend before districts.
It attracts multiple teams and is a final regular-season primer.
The 2023 meet is still scheduled the weekend before districts. However, it will take place on a new day (Friday) at a new locale (Frontier Park).
Prep will host the Oct. 20 event.
Warren County co-op
The district will have one fewer program this season.
It was July 31 when the Warren County School District’s board of directors approved a co-op agreement for Youngsville’s runner to compete as members of the Warren Dragons. Yourdailylocal.com reported Youngsville only had four runners, three boys and one girl, who signed up to compete.
Warren’s cross country teams will remain 2A programs despite the co-op arrangement. Its best runner, Sam Lindell, also remains on campus.
Lindell, now a junior, was voted last season’s Region 4 runner of the year. He advanced to states via an at-large district berth.
Other projected female returnees to watch
Jordan Fox, Jr., Corry: She returns to the starting line for the Beavers as last season’s Region 4 runner of the year.
Isabel Griffin, So., Rocky Grove: Her freshman season for the Orioles was capped when she was voted Region 3’s runner of the year.
Josie Jones, So., Grove City: Her performances were consistent enough to warrant an all-Region 2 first team berth and an all-district second team berth.
Nadalie Latchaw, Sr., Franklin: Region 7’s runner of the year for 2022 also was listed as an all-district, first-teamer.
Karis McElhaney, Jr., Jamestown: She was voted Region 1’s runner of the year ahead of her 2022 spot on the all-district second team list.
Hannah Palmer, Jr., McDowell: The older of two siblings named to last season’s all-district second team.
Hayden Palmer, So., McDowell: The younger of two siblings named to last season’s all-district second team.
Jillian White, Jr., Hickory: Despite Grove City’s team success last fall, she was voted Region 2’s best runner.
Other projected male returnees to watch
Max Dillaman, Sr., Meadville: His 2022 times were consistently low enough to warrant all-Region 6 and all-district first-team berths.
Kamden Kramer, Jr., McDowell: He was the district’s lone medalist (11th at 16:34.6) during last season’s PIAA Class 3A race at Hershey.
Caleb Prettyman, Sr., Franklin: The veteran for the Knights was voted last season’s Region 7 runner of the year.
Caden Riethmiller, Jr., Hickory: He was a 2022 all-Region 2, first-teamer and an all-district, second-teamer.
Kyler Woolstrum, Sr., Cochranton: The Cardinals welcome back last season’s Region 3 runner of the year.
Dates to remember
September
2: McDowell Invitational at Brown’s Farm; Rocket Invitational at Ed Myer Complex, Titusville; Hickory Invitational at Hermitage
9: Red, White & Blue Invitational at White Oak Park, White Oak; Big Reds Invitational at West Middlesex
15: Penn State Behrend Invitational
23: PIAA Foundation at Parkview Cross Country Course, Hershey; Sharpsville Invitational
30: McQuaid Invitational at Genesee Valley Park, Rochester, New York; Cardinal Invitational at Cochranton
October
7: Dirty Dawg Invitational at Harbor Creek; John Sample Invitational at Grove City; Legends Meet at Cortland, Ohio
10: Cathedral Prep vs. McDowell at Brown’s Farm
20: Northwest Pennsylvania Invitational at Frontier Park
21: Mercer County Invitational at Pymatuning State Park, Jamestown, Pennsylvania
28: District 10 meet at Ed Myer Complex, Titusville (tentative)
November
4: PIAA meet at Parkview Cross Country Course, Hershey
Boys all-stars: Meet the Erie Times-News 2022 Boys Cross Country District 10 and Region All-Stars
Girls all-stars: Meet the Erie Times-News 2022 Girls Cross Country District 10 and Region All-Stars
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: District 10 cross country: Try to catch these runners, teams in 2023
