By Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
MESHOPPEN – Krista Jones regained her status as District 2 cross country champion, helping Elk Lake join first-place Montrose as the team state qualifiers from the Class A girls race Thursday afternoon at the Wyoming County Fairgrounds.
Jones broke away from her battle with Forest City freshman Kate Korty to complete the 3.1-mile course in 19:29.8 and claim her third championship. The senior, who also won as a freshman and sophomore on the way to state medals, posted the best time from any of the three girl races.
“I had originally planned to take over right around Mile 2, just because of the location of the downhill, right where Mile 2 was,” Jones said. “But, as we were going through the first mile and halfway through the second, I just thought, ‘I feel real good, I think I can go now instead of waiting’.”
Montrose won the team title with a score of 48, well in front of Elk Lake, which posted a 76 to beat out Mountain View (90) and Lakeland (92) for the second state team berth.
The Korty sisters, Kate and Rachel, finished second and third to lead the list of 10 individual qualifiers who will join Montrose and Elk Lake at the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Championships Nov. 6.
Riverside’s Lacey Danilovitz, last year’s champion, finished fourth, followed by the Mountain View combination of Carissa Flynn and Kathryn Long.
The other individual qualifiers were Kaitlyn Farrell from Holy Cross, Emma Piechocki from Blue Ridge, Mary Kate Kupsky from MMI Prep and Morgan Lutz and Emily Black from Lakeland.
Montrose’s team title was led by Paige Brewer in seventh and eighth and Stephanie Summerville in 11th.
Mary Pichette and Annika Bixby made it official when they came in 17th and 20th.
Jones got support from Makayla Wagner (12th), Mackenzie Strohl (18th), Molly McGlynn (29th) and Hanna Howell (30th).
