PT’s Froelich runs away from competition, wins 1st WPIAL title
WHITE OAK – Roughly 12 hours after playing 80 minutes in a playoff soccer match, Peters Township sophomore Katie Froelich went out and made the competition look like they were standing still in winning the WPIAL Class 3A Girls Cross Country Championship in 16:38 for her first district title Thursday morning at White Oak Park.
Froelich didn’t run cross country last season, but she amazed the state in track and field with individual championships in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs.
Froelich’s first official cross country race was on Sept. 12 in the Red, White and Blue Classic, which was also held at White Oak Park. She won the race in 17:06.80.
Froelich bested last year’s champion, Angela Zeng of South Fayette, who placed second in 17:29.2. Froelich had a three-second lead at the half-mile mark and an eight-second advantage after one mile. She extended her cushion to 29 second over Zeng at the two-mile mark, but never focused on how much of a lead she had.
Froelich’s time of 16:38 is the 11th fastest in the country this year.
“I never look behind me in a race,” Froelich said. “I kind of listen to the fans and hear what they say. It is such a mental challenge in cross country. I give a lot of credit to all these people that do this sport. The people are so nice and everyone is so supportive.”
Zeng, a junior, will be making her third trip to the state meet.
Froelich hasn’t run at the state cross country meet, but the event is now held at Big Spring High School after many years at the course around Hersheypark.
The Indians competed on the course that they will run at for the state championships on Sept. 26 in the 20th Annual PIAA Foundation XC Invitational. Froelich won the race in 17:22.90 and Zeng was second in 17:50.40.
Froelich has been able to compete in cross country and soccer this fall, and wasn’t in too much pain despite playing in the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals Wednesday against Canon-McMillan.
“I really didn’t feel anything from playing last night,” Froelich said. “My arms were a little sore, but it’s all right. My cross country and soccer coaches get nervous when I am doing the other.”
Froelich won’t be alone at the state meet on Nov. 7, as teammate Alicia PT’s Alicia McCloskey finished 22nd in 19:25.5 to qualify during her second season of cross country. The senior was injured last year, but was able to come back strong this year.
The Indians also qualified as a team by placing third in Class 3A with 161 points. Norwin won the team championship with 86 points and Fox Chapel was second with 92.
McCloskey was happy with her individual performance, but just as eager for the team showing.
“It was a double win,” McCloskey said. “I was trying to stay with some of the faster girls and stay with them. I just went with how I felt today. I was able to break my PR today, which is awesome. I was also dealing with shin splints earlier in the season, so I am glad to be at full strength.”
South Fayette senior Griffin Martin qualified for his third state meet by placing sixth in boys Class 3A with a time of 16:01.1.
Martin was pleased with his start, as he stayed with Fox Chapel’s Asher Eckel. Eckel and Norwin’s Declan O’Donnell pulled away from the field and had a photo finish with Eckel winning, but Martin stayed in a good spot.
“I probably went out a little more aggressive than I should have, but at the end of the day, I’m not going to look at that too terribly,” Martin said. “I may have been passed by one person at the end, but I still held in good position.”
Martin would like to finish his high school career on the medal stand at the state meet. He ran the course at Big Spring High School during the PIAA Foundation XC Invitational and placed ninth in 15:57.20.
Trinity senior Devin Junko qualified for the state meet by placing 16th in Class 3A in 16:24.1. Junko will be running in his third state meet.
Burgettstown’s Max Maltony had to look twice when he saw his time and place in the Class A boys race. The senior was sixth overall in 16:37.2. He will be running in the state meet for the second-straight season.
“I ran about a minute faster today than I did last year,” Maltony said. “I was a little surprised to see my time, which I believe breaks our school record that was set by Cody DiVecchio (16:54) in 2015.”
Maltony will have a teammate join him at state in sophomore Mason Steele, who was 36th in 18:40.7. It will be Steele’s first time running in the state meet.
West Greene has a pair of state qualifiers in sophomores Joel Grimes and Kameron Hackney, who finished 12th and 35th overall, respectively. Grimes completed the course in 16:52.4. Hackney, who will be making his debut in the PIAA championship meet, crossed the finish line in 18:40.6.
California’s Carter Kent was 15th in Class A. The senior will be making his fourth appearance in the state meet.
Fort Cherry junior Lydia Frankovich was sixth in Class A girls in 19:56.2 for her second-straight trip to the state meet. Teammate Emerson Holmes (28th/22:10.8) will be running at states for the first time.
Chartiers-Houston senior Leilani Henderson was 19th in 21:30.9 to qualify for the PIAA championships for the second-straight season.
West Greene freshman Maggi Courtwright is state bound after placing 27th in 22:07.3.
Belle Vernon’s Leonidas Soto placed 15th in Class 2A boys in a time of 17:00.4 to qualify for the state meet two years in a row.
Ringgold’s Lawson Martik was 18th in 17:07.5, which had the sophomore as an individual qualifier, but he will have his teammates with him at the state meet, as the Rams were third overall in the team standings.
Belle Vernon used a solid pack of five to place second in the girls team standings in Class 2A, which also qualified the Leopards.
Belle Vernon was led by Brooklyn Steeber, who was 18th in 20:35.2. Teammate Lily Walsh was 19th in 20:41.9. Both would have earned a berth in the state meet as individual qualifiers, but they will be joined by the rest of their squad.
Ringgold’s Claire Brenneman and Samantha Green will be making a trip to the state meet for the first time, as Brenneman, a sophomore, was ninth in 20:02.8, and Green, a freshman, placed 14th in 20:21.6.