Over 20 area runners recently competed in the Nov. 5 PIAA cross country championships. Fourteen individuals and the entire Council Rock North team earned invites to the Hersheypark course.
Thomas Smigo, came home with a gold. The Palisades senior broke the tape in 16:33, a full six seconds ahead of second place finisher Tyler Rader (Huntington) to repeat as the state Class A cross country champion. Earlier this fall, Smigo became the first four-time District 11 champion. Plumstead Christian junior Jordan Eade also earned a PIAA invite, finishing in 21:09.
In Class 3A, CB West senior Owen Donaher finished in the top 50 with a 17:18. CB South junior Evan Morrow finished with 18:03.
CR North senior Jack Czarnecki (17:00), whose 24th place was the best of area harriers in 3A, qualified individually. Czarnecki would have gone to PIAAs regardless as the Indian team clinched a berth in states. Teammate Brady Ott (17:32) finished in the top third. CR North finished 15th out of 21 teams.
On the girls side, Palisades junior Giada Smith ran the 5,000 meter course in 22:56 to place in the top third of Class A finishers. New Hope-Solebury freshman Ruby Keddie, competing in the Class 2A race, clocked a 23:00.
CR South senior Bailey Gassmann (19:43) finished 19th, the best area finish in girls 3A with Pennridge sophomore Ashley Landis coming in four places and four seconds later. The duo were also the top area qualifiers in districts.
Landis’ teammate, senior Nora Ritting (20:41) just missed the top 50 in the over 230-entrant race. CB East senior Devon Sutton (21:04) finished in the top 80.
CB East senior Jillian Thorning (21:36) and Quakertown senior Rebekah Hickey (21:38) both finished in a sub 7:00-minute mile pace.
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