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Cross country runners aim for medals at states

Warren freshman Naomi Hahn will look to build on a freshman season that has saw her put up several national elite performances with a medal at the state meet on Saturday.

There will be a contingent of cross country runners from Warren County competing in the PIAA cross country championships today at Hershey’s Parkview Course.

The Warren girls, who qualified their entire team after a second place finish at the D-10 championships, as well as Youngsville’s Brooke Messinger.

The forecast is for 63 degrees and mostly sunny, which should make the course faster.

Here’s a brief look at how they stack up.

AA Girls (10:15 a.m.)

Naomi Hahn, Brianne Ristau, Iris Roberts, Leah Drake, Kayla Giambrone, Michaela Lind and Gabby Hahn will be representing the Lady Dragons, and they have had a phenomenal season.

Fresh off the program’s first state qualifier in 17 years, they will be looking to make the most of the trip to Hershey.

Greencastle Antrim’s Taryn Parks looks to be the favorite, having run several times in the low 18s.

Villa Maria has won the last two state championships as a team, and they will once again be the favorite after topping Warren for the D-10 team title last week.

Hahn has run several national elite time this season, times that would put her well within reach of the medal stand.

Giambrone has the experience of qualifying last season, so her familiarity with the course should help. Ristau was the Lady Dragons’ No. 2 finisher at districts and could find herself in medal contention as well.

A Girls (9:30 a.m.)

Vincentian Academy’s Marianne Abdalah is seeking a career sweep, having one the previous three state titles, including last season with a time of 18:50.

Messinger is in a good position to potentially medal, something she did in 2014, finishing 25th with a time of 20:15 (the top 30 overall medal).

Last year, she finished 35th with a time of 20:38, a mark she will be looking to improve upon.

Messinger has and is capable of going under 20:00, which would put her in a position to potentially grab a top ten finish.

AA Boys (12:30 p.m.)

Warren’s Blake Ristau is going to Hershey for the third time, so, like Messinger and Giambrone, he has familiarity with the course.

He finished 109th last year with a time of 17:58. He has broken the 17-minute barrier this season, however, and if he does so again, he could find himself in contention for a medal.

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