Competing in the top Division at the 19th annual Carlisle Puma Meet of Champions in Carlisle, PA, the University High School girls led by sophomore Amelia Paladino’s 4th place finish in 19:12.55 placed a solid 3rd in the Puma division and overall. 63 girl teams and 445 runners from across the region converged on the 5000m course hosted by Carlisle High School.
Amelia Paldino
Cross Country racing is a team sport and in order to place high in a large and competitive meet such as the Carlisle, it takes 5 runners to cross the finish before the scoring is over. 2nd on the team for the lady Hawks was freshman Abby Harrison who placed 21st in 20:18.19, senior Kaitlyn Wheeler was next in 30th place in 20:39.50, Emily Lynch, sophomore, was 34th in 20:47.33, and rounding out the scoring was senior Chandler Cottrell in 59th place in 21:14.49. If it had taken a 6th runner in case of a tie, then senior Alex Phares had them covered as she placed 61st with a time of 21:14.49. The average time for the top 5 girls was a fast 20:26.24.
The AAA girls race is shaping up to be one of the marquee races at the West Virginia State Championships.
On the boys side of the Puma division, Jordan Brown-Strobbe continued his outstanding senior season with a 9th place finish in 16:26.13. The Hawks placed 26 out of 32 teams in the top division.
Jordan Brown-Strobbe