Seniors from Latrobe, Penn-Trafford win their 1st WCCA cross country championships

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 | 10:05 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

A couple of seniors can mark off winning the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association cross country meet off their wish lists.

Latrobe senior Emerson Skatell and Penn-Trafford senior Jake McGhee turned in their best performances of the fall Wednesday on the Westmoreland County Community College 5K course.

Skatell ran an 18:41.10 to breeze past Norwin junior Annie Czajkowski (19:09.10) and Kiski Area senior Lauren Ciuca (19:25.90).

After crossing the finish line, Skatell was greeted with hugs from her mom Cami and dad Jeff.

“I came in fourth last year and since it is my senior year, my goal was to win it,” Skatell said. “I’ve been working out and I felt great at the beginning of the race. Annie is such a great runner, so I just paced with her.

“I was able to break away before the two-mile mark and just kept the lead. I’m a little surprised that I was able to pull away. Winning this gives me great motivation for the races the next few weeks.”

Skatell placed 20th in the state last year and her goal now is top five.

Czajkowski said it was just Skatell’s day.

“I’m proud of her,” Czajkowski said. “We’re close friends. I could tell Emerson was feeling strong throughout the race. She’s been wanting this, so she deserves it,”

While not totally pleased with her race, Czajkowski said she’s happy with how the team performed.

“It’s super exciting with what we did,” she said. “We’re coming together as a team. I am super proud of them.”

Ciuca was recruited by Kiski Area’s coaches from gym class. She is in the color guard for the band, but she’s happy to be running.

“I love it,” Ciuca said. “I am really pleased with how I ran. It was definitely a battle. I just continue to get faster. I’d love to make it to states.”

Latrobe’s Carly Berk was fourth followed by Norwin’s Addison Farrah and Jillian Ryba. Finishing seventh was Kiski Area’s Marie Roberts. Southmoreland’s Lexi Ohler was eighth, Hempfield’s Chesnee Smith was ninth and Norwin’s Emily Dansek was 10th. Emily Dansek was 11th as Norwin, ranked No. 2 in the WPIAL, got past Latrobe, 32-49, for the Class 3A team title.

Greensburg Salem girls were the Class 2A team winner by edging out Derry, 36-39.

McGhee outkicked Norwin’s Enzo Jiancristoforo and Luke Simpson to win the boys race. McGhee set a meet record with a time of 16:14.3. Jiancristoforo ran a 16:16.9 and Simpson a 16:19.50.

Kiski Area junior Sam Plazio, a two-time champion, finished fourth, running a 16:25.80. Plazio said he’s been battling a hip injury.

“I tried to stay with Sam as long as I could,” McGhee said, “But I felt good, and I decided to go for it with 1,000 meters left. I was surprised he didn’t come with me. I knew I could hit the hill pretty hard, and I surged and kept going.”

Once McGhee got the lead, he said he could hear the Norwin runners gaining on him. He kept looking back to see where they were.

“Winning this race is a great accomplishment because the past two years I haven’t ran well,” McGhee said. “I’ve had a back issue, but I felt great today.”

After the race, McGhee, Jiancristoforo and Simpson laid on the ground posing for photos, joking around and reflecting on the race.

“I started off conservative and tried to stay with the lead pack,” Jiancristoforo said. “I stayed with the top five most of the race and then with 800 meters left, I just kicked, and I ended up second. Jake’s a great runner, and I couldn’t reel him in.”

Simpson said: “When Enzo came up, I tried to work with him. But Jake has an awesome kick. He passed me with 800 meters left.”

Plazio said he was not pleased with how he ran.

“I am not too happy with my race,” Plazio said. “But I’m coming of a three-week injury. This is my first race back. I was trying what I could.”

Norwin senior Thomas Gaydos was fifth and Norwin freshman Benjamin McBride was sixth. Hempfield junior Jonathan Stetchock was seventh, Latrobe sophomore Charlie Heese was eighth, Hempfield junior Ryan Ewing was ninth and Greensburg Salem’s Owen Noal was 10th. Golden Lions senior Nick Reinhart was 11th, helping Greensburg Salem to the Class 2A team title, nipping Derry, 33-34.

The Norwin boys won their second consecutive Class 3A team title, outscoring Hempfield, 31-58. The Knights boys are also ranked No. 2 in the WPIAL.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.