PENNSYLVANIA STATE MEET

Virginia Kraus Becomes First Four-Time State Champion In Pennsylvania

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

In the 86th running of the PIAA State Cross Country Championships, Virginia Kraus of Saucon Valley made history.

Kraus became the first girl ever to win four state titles, capturing the 2A crown in a record time of 17:48 on Saturday, Nov. 1, at Parkview Cross Country Course in Hershey.

The Dartmouth-bound senior won by nearly 30 seconds, sealing a legendary career. Cathedral Prep repeated as 2A team champion with 74 points.

In the boys 2A race, Jonah Montagnese of Quaker Valley earned his first state title, crossing the line in 16:00. Hughesville took home the team title with 135 points.

Madelyn McCartney of Emmaus dropped nearly a minute from last year to win the 3A girls race in 18:17.

Norwin packed all five scorers inside the top 20 to claim the team trophy with 54 points.

On the boys side, Cedar Crest senior Travis Furmanski capped his dominant season with the 3A title, running 15:34 ahead of Lower Merion’s Nicholas Mazzeo (15:39).

North Penn edged defending champion State College, 115–123, for the team championship.

In 1A, Shady Side Academy edged OLSH, 122–128, for the girls title, led by freshman Josephine Lenart, who finished second overall in 19:41. Mercer Area senior Maggie Jewell won her first state title in 19:28.

Northwest Area’s Michael Fritz was the lone sub-16 finisher in the 1A boys race, taking the title in 15:59. Elk Lake’s Kendall Jones (16:05) placed second and guided his team to the state championship, with three runners finishing in the top six.

TEAM CHAMPIONS

Class 3A -  North Penn boys 115 points, Norwin girls 54 points 

Class 2A - Hughesville boys 135 points; Cathedral Prep girls 74 points

Class 1A - Elk Lake boys 61 points, Shady Side Academy girls 122 points