Marlee Starliper and Rusty Kujdych Cruise To PIAA State Titles
Class AA Girls
Marlee Starliper from Northern (PA) High won her first ever PIAA Class AA cross country title Saturday. As a freshman, she placed second, running 19-minutes flat.
But a year wiser and stronger. The sophomore, ranked No. 17 on the Flo50 50, knocked over a minute off her time from last year, running 17:50 for the fastest time among all classifications.
She just missed the course record of 17:44, set last year by Downingtown West's Aislinn Devlin. This is the first race Starliper has run this season in which she hasn't destroyed a course record. But she still has two 151 speed ratings to her name: a 16:50 from the Carlisle Invitational and now her first-ever state title with two more years ahead to chase the state record.
In the girls team race, the ladies from Danville took home the win by scoring 121 points, with Allentown Central Catholic (139) and Villa Maria (147) rounding out the top three.
Class AAA Boys
In the Class AAA Boys race, we were keeping an eye on Rusty Kujdych from Neshaminy. Kujdych has been on and off the Flo50 rankings a few times this year and is currently on the bubble. After this weekend that might change.
The senior ran a 15:47.00 to take the win. He beat the rest of the field by 10 seconds and ran the fastest time of the day. His time is also the second fastest ever on the new course, only behind Carlisle graduate Noah Affolder, who went 15:33.
By: Bryan Deibel
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