aclose@timesobserver.com

Cross country runners have prepared all season for this moment – the District 10 championships are upon us.

Warren, Eisenhower and Youngsville will join their counterparts, with many looking to punch that elusive ticket to states.

In 2016, the Warren girls finished second in the team scoring, earning an automatic trip to Hershey, and last season, they earned a fourth place finish.

And while the competition will be fierce, it’s not out of the realm of possibility for another similar performance at Sharon’s Buhl Park.

Last season, Naomi Hahn finished 13th and Kayla Giambrone 14th to earn a trip to states, while Bri Ristau was 36th.

Giambrone, a senior, and Hahn and Ristau, both juniors will lead the Lady Dragons against teams like Sharon, led by defending champion Gianna Labbiento, General McLane and Devyn Bayle and Harbor Creek, led by Madeline Curtis.

Graham Carr, Trenten Dippold and Brett Sowa, fresh off strong performances at the Northwest Pennsylvania Invitational, will lead the Dragon boys.

Harbor Creek, General McLane, Seneca and Fairview are considered favorites in the team race in Class 2A.

GM’s Nate Price is the defending champion, followed by Harbor Creek’s Ryan Starvaggi and Aiden Weber, GM’s Erik Andrzejewski and Grove City’s Jonah Powell.

North East’s Josh Lewis might be the favorite, however, after the Pickers moved up to Class 2A this season.

Ethan Kellogg and Tyson Morrison have both turned in very strong seasons for the Eisenhower boys, and they will be contenders in the Class A race.

They finished 61st and 69th respectively a year ago.

Mik Fehlman and Phoenix Lindell will pace the Youngsville boys.

Eisenhower’s Sydney Welker has had a very good senior season, and she, along with Chloe Lasecki and Lily Fedorchuk will head a strong Lady Knights’ contingent in Class A, while Youngsville freshman Julia Bojaczko will lead the Lady Eagles.