McQuaid Invitational 2013

Elk County Catholic senior Kennedy Weisner enters her final year of XC with a champion's resume. Her best year to date was last year as a junior when she won her first state cross country title - this one in the inaugural Class A Championship. Weisner also qualified for her first Foot Locker Nationals. During indoor, she was invited to her first Millrose Mile, and also to the Brooks PR meet, an elite gathering in the Northwest. She came back in outdoor to capture two state AA titles, winning the 800 and the 1600 - a very tough double. She began her final XC season at PTXC-5, setting a course record of 17:49.

Haney wins duel in the sun over Hardy and De La Rosa, Obsa Ali gets the win at Griak. Move over girls! Frosh Lauren Gregory is on the move in a big way in CO!  Much more inside! (Photo by Maria De La Rosa)

Unionville senior Courtney Smith entered her third year of XC with a resume that has been growing season-to-season. As a sophomore, she was 4th in AAA at Hershey. Then last year, she won her first state title, setting a meet and course record. In the winter, she broke the state record in the 3000 meter run, but had to settle for 2nd place. She more than made up for it by twice outsprinting the same competitor, first for 3rd place in the Girls 3000 Invitational at the Penn Relays, and then in the finals of the AAA 3200 meter run at the PIAA State Championships. Smith led her team to a qualifying spot and trip to NXN after winning the Northeast Regional. But in the first 1000 meters in Portland, she fell and was spiked. She recovered for 10th. Then during indoor, and despite an injury, Smith captured 3rd in an incredible 3000 at PTFCA Indoor States, and anchored her DMR to a state title. Two weeks later, she anchored that DMR to a 6th place finish in the New Balance Nationals Indoor champs in a time ten seconds better than their state title... and anchored the 4xmile the next day to a 3rd place finish - both earning all-American recognition. But the injury endured. She went through PT, and returned to racing at the Henderson Invitational on May 2nd. Beyond happy to be back.  

Four Pennsylvania harriers are among the top 25 in the country in the latest Saucony Elite 50 produced and published by the MileSplit national site.

PA#1 Unionville beat 7-time NXN champions Fayetteville-Manlius 45-79 in the featured, seeded race, putting five ahead of FM's four, and eight ahead of FM's five. Elk County Catholic's Kennedy Weisner posted a solo effort of 16:54.6. Maplewood's Jeremy Parsons won the Boys Varsity A Race in 15:19.5.

We've reached the halfway point of the 2013 cross country season and Carlisle will mark the occassion with their big annual invitational. A handful of PA teams will run through Six Flags in New Jersey while Unionville will challenge themselves against the seven time defending national champions Fayetteville-Manlius of New York at the McQuaid Invitational. Kennedy Weisner of Elk County Catholic. She is the defending champion and course record holder.