Bethlehem, Pa. -- Sometimes it's hard to fly under the radar when you are the defending state Champions, but that was exactly what the Falcons were hoping for heading into the PIAA District One cross country championship at Lehigh University.
"We came here with a lot of confidence," said senior Ann Herman.
Herman's 18:05 time led the way.
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"I don’t think that other teams expected us to do as well as last year, but to win the district gold medal in my senior year is awesome," Herman said.
Pennsbury used great teamwork to battle through the logjam that is always the first obstacle to overcome while traversing the course carved out of the foothills of the Lehigh Valley.
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By the time they had reached the two-mile mark, Herman was followed closely by junior Sara Sargent. The trio of freshman Erin O’Connell, sophomore Eric Grey and junior Elizabeth Wedekind worked their way to the front. All three finished within eight seconds of each other to complete the win with all five girls arriving at the finish line out in the top 25, qualifying each of the for states individually as well.
"The course out at states is more hilly," added Hermann. "I think that actually will help us. This course is a lot more flat, but overall we had a great day and we are excited to get back to states."
The Falcons won the combined AAA and AAAA District One title in blow out fashion finishing with 69 points with class AAA Unionville having a tally of 130.
In class AA action, the girls of Villa Joe Marie claimed second place overall with a score of 47 and had sophomore Brenna Twomey, Emma Mahoney Danielle DeColi, Stephanie Hughes, Tori Widmer, Gabrielle Falcon and Faith Lumpkin all finished in the top 22 in the district.
Twomey’s time of 19:38 was fast enough to earn her a third place District One medal and a berth in next week’s state championships held at the Parkview course in Hershey, Pa.
Class AA Girls
1 Saint Basil Academy 29 2 Villa Joseph Marie 47 3 New Hope-Solebury 83 4 Christopher Dock 85 2 Villa Joseph Marie 2 Brenna Twomey, So 19:38 6:20 5 Emma Mahony, Sr 19:52 6:24 11 Danielle DeColli, So 21:13 6:51 14 Stephanie Hughes, So 21:45 7:01 15 Tori Widmer, Sr 21:54 7:04 16 Gabrielle Falcon, So 21:56 7:04 17 Faith Lumpkin, Jr 21:57 7:05 Total Place: 47 Total Time: 1:44:20
Overall top 22 finishers. Top five qualify for state championship:
1 Megan McGarrity, Jr. 18:57 Saint Basil Academy2
19:38 Villa Joseph Marie 4 Alexa Botelho, So 19:39 New Hope-Solebury 5 Stephanie Welte, Sr 19:48 Saint Basil Academy 6 Emma Mahony, Sr 19:52 Villa Joseph Marie 7 Elizabeth McDonald, Sr 19:54 Country Day School 8 Carrie Gehman, Sr 20:00 Christopher Dock 9 Corinne Manela, Sr 20:18 Saint Basil Academy 10 Mara Kelly, Sr 20:23 Springfield Township
11
Caroline Harmon, Fr 20:34 Lower Moreland 12 Valerie Santangelo, Jr 20:39 Saint Basil Academy 13 Mary Satterthwaite, So 20:58 Jenkintown 14 Casey Uhrich, Sr 21:01 Saint Basil Academy 15 Elizabeth DeMarshall, Fr 21:08 Saint Basil Academy 16 Danielle DeColli, So 21:13 Villa Joseph Marie 17 Olivia Bradford, Sr 21:19 Christopher Dock18 Katie Cassidy, Jr 21:28 Saint Basil Academy 19 Stephanie Hughes, So 21:45 Villa Joseph Marie 20 Tori Widmer, Sr 21:54 Villa Joseph Marie 21 Gabrielle Falcon, So 21:56 Villa Joseph Marie 22 Faith Lumpkin, Jr 21:57 Villa Joseph Marie
The following combined AAA and AAAA results are state qualifiers:
Place Team Points1
Pennsbury 69 2 Unionville 130 3 West Chester Henderson 132 4 Downingtown East 158 5 North Penn 252Pennsbury
1 Tori Gerlach, Sr
17:39 Pennridge 2 Meghan McGovern, Sr 17:44 North Penn 3 Hannah Grossman, Sr 17:46 Strath Haven 4 Marissa Sheva, Fr 17:58 Pennridge 5 Ann Herman, Sr 18:05 Pennsbury 6 Sara Sargent, Jr 18:20 Pennsbury 7 Courtney Smith, So 18:24 Unionville 8 Stephanie Aldrich, Jr 18:29 Henderson 9 Sophia Meehan, Sr 18:29 Haverford 10 Amber Hontz, Fr 18:30 Bayard Rustin 11 Kate Scott, Jr 18:33 C Rock North 12 Katelyn Callaghan, Jr 18:37 Downing East 13 Biz Weiler, Sr 18:39 Downing East 14 Elise Claffey, Fr 18:39 Great Valley 15 Caitlyn Sheva, Jr 18:41 Pennridge 16 Kara Steinke, So 18:47 Methacton 17 Erin O'Connell, Fr 18:47 Pennsbury 18 Erica Gray, So 18:48 Pennsbury 19 Meghan Iatarola, So 18:48 C Bucks West 20 Janie Augustyn, Sr 18:53 Henderson 21 Anne Birkenmaier, Jr 18:53 Unionville 22 Sarah Holl, Sr 18:54 Upper Dublin 23 Elizabeth Wedekind, Jr 18:55 Pennsbury 24 Anja Weiler, So 18:57 Downing East 25 Amanda Eisman, Sr 19:01 Henderson
