West Greene girls advance to PIAA cross country championships
CALIFORNIA 鈥� The West Greene girls advanced to the PIAA finals by finishing third in the WPIAL Class A Cross Country Championships last Thursday afternoon at California University of Pa.鈥檚 Roadman Park
Freshman Katie Lampe led the charge for the Lady Pioneers by finishing 21st overall in a time of 22:20.
鈥淭he hill was tough,鈥� the younger Lampe said of the middle part of the course. 鈥淢y dad and coach said I have to go (in the final stretch). I passed four or five down the shoot.鈥�
The freshman was a bit anxious at the start of the first race of day.
鈥淚 was nervous. But, it was off my mind when we started. I just focused on finishing,鈥� said Lampe.
Fellow freshman Brooke Barner wasn鈥檛 far behind Lampe, placing 25th overall in a time of 22:25.
McKenna Lampe made it 4-for-4 when the Lady Pioneers qualified, but her 29th-place finish in 22:32 would鈥檝e been good enough to qualify as an individual. Ashley Cumberledge was the fourth finisher for West Greene in 22:57.
鈥淢y goal was to qualify as a team, not so much as an individual. I wanted to cross the line and win as a team,鈥� said Lampe, whose twin sister Madison finished 67th overall in 24:09.
McKenna Lampe also spoke of the hill around the two-mile mark.
鈥淭he hill 鈥� I need to get this hill. There were a lot of girls walking,鈥� said Lampe. 鈥淚 wanted to keep my little sister and Brooke Barner in my view.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been practicing to stay in a pack. Keep them in your sight and we鈥檒l be good.鈥�
Lampe is looking forward to running the state meet with her sisters and teammates.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be very exciting. I finally achieved one of my goals, to make (the state meet) as a team,鈥� said Lampe.
Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Kaitlyn Pester place 62nd (23:22).
California鈥檚 Makayla Boda finished 33rd overall in Class A with a time of 22:43, three spots and 11 seconds shy of the final berth into the state meet, but found out after the meet was over a girl scratched from the state meet so she鈥檚 going after all.
鈥淢y hip was hurting the whole time. It鈥檚 been hurting me since mid-season,鈥� said Boda.
Boda was close the the 30th spot in the field as the race closed in on the finish.
鈥淎 few people passed me in the last mile,鈥� said Boda. 鈥淭owards the back stretch, I was telling myself you gotta go.鈥�