SF’s Zeng focused on improvement as defending WPIAL champ
As the defending WPIAL Class 3A girls cross country champion, Angela Zeng knows she’ll be the target for other runners this fall.
It’s not something she dwells on, however.
Zeng, a junior at South Fayette, is more focused on the process and being the best that she can be.
“It’s super grounding and definitely sets an expectation, but honestly there isn’t a chip on my shoulder or a sense that I have to defend my title,” Zeng said. “I know that I’m going to go out there and give it my all and there’s other girls that are training just as hard if not harder and want it just as bad. At the end of the day, if I give it my all, I’ll be happy with the result. I know there’s some fast underclassmen and I’m grateful for that, because they’re going to push me and we’ll all make each other better.”
Zeng’s training for cross country started about a week after the PIAA track and field championships in May, where she finished second in the 1,600-meter run and 3rd in the 3,200.
A short break and then it was back to work, slowly building up to get into shape to attack the cross country season.
“The summer training went pretty well,” Zeng said. “I was able to be pretty consistent this summer, which was good. I’m really excited for this season. I think we can do some good things both individually and as a team. It was a good summer build to prepare for the season.
“I started by running three to four days a week to build back slowly. Our coach has a very structured way of building mileage. You add roughly 10-percent a week and build slowly to avoid injury.”
Zeng won the WPIAL title by posting a time of 17:49.70, which bested second place Piper Munyon of Gateway, who finished at 18:17.70.
The WPIAL championships will be held at White Oak Park again this fall. It’s a course that Zeng feels suits her well. She’ll make her season debut there at the 26th annual Red, White and Blue on Sept. 12.
“I definitely like that course,” Zeng said. “It’s two loops of the same thing with one prominent hill. That course really allows you to dictate the race and really attack the second part hard if you feel good on the first part.”
Zeng finished sixth at states in Hershey last year and has set a goal to make it again this year, but it’ll be at a different course. The PIAA meet won’t return to Hershey, ending a 25-year run at what was known as a demanding and hilly course. It’s moved to a course at Big Spring High School, which is north of Shippensburg in Cumberland County.
“They held the NCAA Division III National Championships there a few years ago,” Zeng said. “The new course is relatively flat (compared to Hershey). We’re going to go out as a team and see the course in a month or so.”
The South Fayette girls made it to states as a team and there’s two returners alongside Zeng: Ellena Gibbs, a junior and Violet George, a sophomore.
The Lions are hopeful to get back to the PIAA meet as a team again and Zeng has embraced being a leader in that quest.
“Cross country has taught me how to be a leader and that leadership is not about you, but the people that you lead,” Zeng said. “I strive to lead through example and set a good example for the girls around me, because I know my impact can carry past the years that I’m here. I want to leave a footprint on the team that other people can learn and continue the tradition that we have built here with our team.”
There are several other individual state qualifiers returning this fall.
Belle Vernon junior Brooklyn Steeber returns in Class 2A girls.
Fort Cherry and Chartiers-Houston have a pair of girls returning in Class A.
Lydia Frankovich, a junior and Lucia DeMicco, a senior, return for the Rangers. Leilani Henderson, a senior, and Grace Littlecott, a sophomore are back for the Bucs.
South Fayette senior Griffin Martin and Trinity senior Devin Junko made it in Class 3A boys.
Belle Vernon senior Leonidas Soto placed 13th at WPIALs last year and is the top returning boys local finisher in Class 2A. Moshe Dale of McGuffey is another returning state qualifier.
California senior Carter Kent, Burgettstown senior Max Maltony and West Greene sophomore Joel Grimes made states in Class A.