This is what runners have been working toward all season: the District 2 Championships with an eye on qualifying for the PIAA Championships in Hershey on Nov. 2.
Today at Lakeland High School, the best from the Lackawanna League and the Wyoming Valley Conference will battle in six races over three classes.
Weather forecast calls for sunny skies, a high of 59 degrees with winds from the west at 10-15 mph.
Here is a link to a map of the course at Lakeland:
A closer look at each race:
CLASS 3A GIRLS
Start time: 11:20 a.m.
Jake Danna Stevens / Staff Photographer
Abby Marion, Abington Heights, left; Scranton’s Bella Noreika
Schools: Abington Heights, Delaware Valley, Hazleton Area, Pittston Area, Scranton, Wallenpaupack, Wilkes-Barre Area, Wyoming Valley West, Williamsport
Last year’s champions: Lydia Smith, Williamsport; Abington Heights (team)
Top returning finisher: Smith
Runners to watch: Abby Marion, Maia Archangelo, Abington Heights; Bella Noreika, Amelia King, Scranton; Laina Bogusta, Delaware Valley; Nicole Zambetti, Pittston Area; Kristie Samanchik, Hazleton Area
District medals: Top 10
To states: Team champion, five individuals
Note: This is a District 2-4 Subregional
CLASS 2A GIRLS
Start time: 12:40 p.m.
Sean McKeag / Staff Photographer
Molly DeMarzo, Crestwood
Schools: Berwick, Crestwood, Dallas, Nanticoke, Hanover Area, Holy Redeemer, Honesdale, Lake-Lehman, North Pocono, Scranton Prep, Tunkhannock, Valley View, West Scranton, Western Wayne, Wyoming Area
Last year’s champions: Molly DeMarzo, Crestwood; Valley View (team)
Top returning finisher: DeMarzo
Runners to watch: Brianna Zipay, Samantha Adams, Valley View; Madison Kammer, Western Wayne; Abby Bowen, Anna Kosierowski, Scranton Prep; Dana Pratt, Rachel Collins, Honesdale; Lauren Posluszny, North Pocono; Abby Paczewski, Lake-Lehman; Cameron Marcinkowski, Lexie Marcinkowski, Holy Redeemer; Aubriana Marranca, Wyoming Area; Jaida Geiser, Berwick; Kaitlyn Hodakowski, Dallas
District medals: Top 20
To states: Top two teams, 10 individuals
CLASS 1A GIRLS
Start time: 2 p.m.
Schools: Blue Ridge, Dunmore, Elk Lake, Forest City, Holy Cross, Lackawanna Trail, Lakeland,
Tori James of Lackawanna Trail, left; Sadie Bosscher from Elk Lake, right
Mid Valley, MMI Prep, Montrose, Mountain View, Northwest, Old Forge, Riverside, Susquehanna, Wyoming Seminary
Last year’s champions: Krista Jones, Elk Lake; Holy Cross (team)
Top returning finisher: Jones
Runners to watch: Rachel Korty, Forest City; Paige Brewer, Hannah Perkins, Montrose; Sadie Bosscher, Elk Lake; Molly Repecki, Holy Cross; Tori James, Lackawanna Trail; Kathryn Long, Mountain View; Olivia James, Lakeland; Lindsey Welsh, Old Forge; Gabrielle Snee, Mid Valley; Gia Fiore, Blue Ridge; Caroline Siegel, Wyoming Seminary; Brooke Bau, Northwest
District medals: Top 15
To states: Team champion, five individuals
CLASS 3A BOYS
Start time: Noon
Schools: Delaware Valley, Hazleton Area, North Pocono, Scranton, Wallenpaupack, Wilkes-Barre Area, Wyoming Valley West, Williamsport
Jake Danna Stevens / Staff Photographer
North Pocono’s Caleb Kenyon, left; Josh Christianson, Scranton
Last year’s champions: Tyler Wirth, Wallenpaupack; Wallenpaupack (team);
Top returning finisher: J. Henry Lyon, Wallenpaupack (3rd)
Runners to watch: Josh Christianson, Anthony Roberto, Scranton; Caleb Kenyon, North Pocono; Adam Kanterman, Delaware Valley; Kyle Kellstrom, Seth Brown, Wallenpaupack; Zack Keiner, Gabriel McKittrick, Hazleton Area; Tavian McKenna, Wyoming Valley West
District medals: Top 10
To states: Team champion, five individuals
Note: This is a District 2-4 Subregional
CLASS 2A BOYS
Start time: 1:20 p.m.
Schools: Abington Heights, Berwick, Crestwood, Dallas, Nanticoke, Hanover Area, Holy Redeemer, Honesdale, Lake-Lehman, Lakeland, Mid Valley, Pittston Area, Riverside, Scranton Prep, Tunkhannock, Valley View, West Scranton, Western Wayne, Wyoming Area
Last year’s champions: Mitchell Rome, Dallas; Holy Redeemer (team);
Top returning finisher: Chris Hine, Holy Redeemer (6th)
Runners to watch: Gavin Ross, Alex Duffy, Abington Heights; Justin Goodrich, Scranton Prep; Michael Novak, Collin Pacyna, Mid Valley; Chris Noldy, Lakeland; Gavin Beck, Riverside; Ian Kovatch, Jack Baronski, Valley View; Michael Branley, Wyoming Area; Joey Rowley, Stephen Rowley, Hanover Area; Nick Hockenbury, Lake-Lehman; Nash Greene, Crestwood; Nathan Myers, Tunkhannock
District medals: Top 20
To states: Top two teams, 10 individuals
Sean McKeag / Staff Photographer
Holy Redeemer’s Chris Hine
CLASS 1A BOYS
Start time: 2:40 p.m.
Jake Danna Stevens / Staff Photographer Holy Cross’ Kevin Jumper, left, and Andrew Healey, right
Schools: Blue Ridge, Dunmore, Elk Lake, Forest City, Holy Cross, Lackawanna Trail, MMI Prep, Montrose, Mountain View, Northwest, Old Forge, Susquehanna, Wyoming Seminary
Last year’s champions: Andrew Healey, Holy Cross; Montrose (team)
Top returning finisher: Healey
Runners to watch: Kevin Jumper, Holy Cross; Nicholas Coy, Montrose; Austin Gow, Susquehanna; Justice Johnson, Elk Lake; Joseph Cardillo, Dunmore; Matthew Korty, Forest City; Jack Condon, Blue Ridge; Angelo Lombardo, Wyoming Seminary
District medals: Top 15
To states: Team champion, five individuals
— SCOTT WALSH
During more than 30 years at The Times-Tribune, Scott has covered everything from high schools to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. His current beats include motor sports, local colleges, high school cross country and high school baseball. He also is a copy editor and page designer. His articles have won awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors, American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association, Eastern Motorsports Press Association, the Society of Professional Journalists Keystone Pro Chapter and the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Keystone Press. He also has been honored by the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League and the Minor League Football Alliance. In 2016, he was presented the Media Service Award by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. A Long Island, New York, native, Scott graduated from the University of Scranton in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in communications. He lives in Peckville with his wife, Andrea, and daughters, Bridget and Emily. Contact him at swalsh@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100, x5109; or @swalshTT on Twitter
