Brophy brings the heat late in AAA win

By Mary Albl for DyeStat

At the Pennsylvania State Cross Country Championships at Hershey Park on Saturday, it was Central Bucks East’s Jake Brophy who stole the show. 

The senior used an incredible come-from-behind finish down the last stretch of the 5,000-meter course to defend his 3A title in 15 minutes and 39 seconds. He edged out senior Jaxson Hoey of Dowingtown West (15:40).

The 3A boys title belonged to Downingtown West, which scored 57 points, placing three runners in the top 10. Downington West won the Manhattan Invitational earlier this fall.

In the 3A girls race, it was all Pennsbury. Led by senior Olivia Sargent’s first-place finish (18:09), Pennsbury won its fifth title in seven year, as they easily won scoring 47 points, beating Unionville (72). 

In the 2A race at Hershey Park, Lake-Lehman senior Dominic Hockenbury defended his title, running 15:49 for the victory. In the team battled, Dallas (96) edged out York Suburban (104) for the championships.

In girls 2A, there was a familiar battle between district foes Ally Rome of Dallas and Erin Feeney of Scranton Prep went head to head on the course. It was Rome, though, who prevailed, running 18:30 for the victory. Feeney was runner-up in 18:49. 

Team wise, Villa Maria went unchallenged, scoring 50 points for the win. The ruunner-up was Danville (117).

In the boys 1A race, Griffin Mackey of Sewickley Academy clocked the fastest time to win in 16:05. In the team race, Camp Hill scored 113 points to beat Swickley Academy’s 121. Camp Hill placed three runners in the top 15. 

In the girls race, Vincentian Academy junior Marianne Abdalah impressed again, winning her third straight 1A title in 18:50. She barely beat out a charging Emma Seifried, a sophomore from Country Day School who clocked 18:50 as well. 

The team title went to St. Joseph's Catholic (90), while Central Cambria (97) was second.