NTL CROSS-COUNTRY: TOWANDA'S LARSON JUST MISSES THE MEDALS AT STATES (2024-11-03)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
HERSHEY — Towanda’s Izzy Larson just missed a state medal in her first race at the PIAA Cross-country Championships Saturday, taking 30th overall in the Class AA Girls’ race.

Larson ran 20:24, 23 seconds behind the final medalist.

“It’s super exciting to be down here,” Larson said. “A lot of good competition, and it’s just a fun race. I felt pretty good about my race, and it gives me a good look on where I want to be next year.”

The sophomore qualified for states as a freshman, but wasn’t able to run due to an injury. 

This year she made the most of it, sitting in 40th at the 800 meter mark. She would get down to 37th halfway through the race, then pop up to 43rd at the 2-mile. 

With 1,000 meters to go she was 36th, and in those 1,000 meters she passed six runners to get to the top 30.

“I felt pretty strong during my race,” Larson said. “I was happy with my spot. I just wanted to move up and pick as many girls off as I could, but still not kill myself, and keep a good pace.”

This gives Larson a good idea of how to run the race next season.

“I felt like the way I went out was pretty conservative, but on some of the down hill parts I need to get a little faster and grab a spot,” she said. “There’s a lot of traffic up there.”

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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING

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