North Allegheny cross country squads wrap season at PIAAs

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, November 16, 2017 | 11:00 PM

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The North Allegheny girls cross country team ended the season on a higher note than the boys.

The girls placed fourth and the boys 12th in the PIAA Class AAA championship meet Nov. 4 in Hershey. Both squads came in third in the WPIAL championships Oct. 26 at Cooper's Lake in Butler County.

Senior Clara Savchik sparkled for the girls in the two 3.1-mile races.

Savchik placed second in the PIAA (18 minutes, 24 seconds) and third in the WPIAL (18:20). In the PIAA championship, she trailed the winner, who was from District 12, by six seconds.

Sophomore Hannah Lindgren also earned two medals, and sophomore Caroline Daggett picked up a WPIAL championship award.

Junior Ally Christy, sophomore Jenna Mlecko, junior Ally Meehan and senior Tess Wright competed.

For the boys, sophomore Dan McGoey set the pace, placing third in both the PIAA (15:58) and WPIAL (15:55) events.

Junior Luke Turkovich, junior Ethan James, sophomore Stephen Nalepa, senior Cam Phillips, sophomore Rene Abdalah and freshman Andrew Kollitz were in the lineup.

Though disappointed with their finish, Tigers coach John Neff was proud the boys — the WPIAL champions from 2006-15 and PIAA champions in 2010 — made states. With so many underclassmen, he said they have a bright future.

McGoey expects the Tigers to do better next season.

“We have a lot of guys who are willing to train to be the best team in the state,” he said.

Karen Kadilak is a freelance writer.

Tags: North Allegheny