BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports Report
The best of the best in the state of Pennsylvania will be facing off on Saturday at the PIAA Cross-country Championships. The NTL looks to be well represented, with a few athletes in the running for some hardware.
GIRLS
CLASS A, 9:30 A.M.
The Sullivan County girls’ team is ranked 25th by the PennTrackXC rankings, led by Zoey Reese (65th) and Addisyn Templin (90th).
NEB’s Sophie Bennett is ranked 86th.
The District IV champion, Warrior Run’s Claire Dufrene, is ranked first.
CLASS AA, 10:15 A.M.
Wellsboro’s Lauren Kosek comes in ranked fifth in the state, and is a returning state medalist from last season.
Towanda’s Maris Cobb sits in 25th, right on the bubble, as teammate Izzy Larson is ranked 53rd.
Athens’ Alissa Vough is ranked 76th, while the NPM duo of Leila Garverick and Jaci Fairchild aren’t on the list but they would be around 131st if they were.
BOYS
CLASS A, 11:45 A.M.
Canton’s Lawrence Halbfoerster just missed the medals last year and looks poised to break into the top 25. He ran a good enough time to medal at the PIAA Foundation race earlier this year, but it looks like there’s going to be plenty of competition.
Halbfoerster is currently ranked 28th in the state, though not all courses are alike.
Fellow Warrior Landon Lake is ranked 235th coming into the meet.
NEB’s Jackson Martin is currently ranked 69th in the state, with Levi Dewing the next highest at 220th with senior Russell Martin sitting at 252nd.
The Panthers come in ranked 24th in the state.
Sullivan County’s Calen Sweigart is ranked 193rd.
The District IV champion, Northwest’s Michael Fritz, is currently ranked number one in the state.
CLASS AA, 12:30 P.M.
In this field Wellsboro’s Max Macias and Henry Whitney are ranked 57th and 61st in the state.
Towanda’s Boom Thompson is ranked 137th, with Emmett Klees ranked 142nd.
Though not on the list, NP-Mansfield’s James Knefley would be ranked 37th by his fastest time.
The District IV champion, Hughesville’s Tyce Shaner, is ranked second in the state.
