The girls on the Foxes cross country team said repeatedly that they were determined to get to the PIAA Class AAA championships this year, and they proved good on their word.
As the newly-crowned WPIAL runner-ups, Fox Chapel Area High School will send its first-ever girls’ team to the statewide cross country competition on November 5 in Hershey, PA. Team members are juniors Caelan Miller and Megan Strafford, sophomores Anna Folkerts, Sarena Seeger, and Annika Urban, and freshmen Izzy Doerr and Brooke Krally. Grace Sisson, also a freshman, is the alternate.
At the WPIAL finals, Annika was the top finisher for the Foxes in 9th place, while her running partner, Sarena, was right behind her in 10th place. This is Annika and Sarena’s second time qualifying for the individual statewide meet in their two short years of high school competition. Brooke came in 13th, and in her first year running cross country, Caelan placed 18th.
“I was very pleased, obviously,” says Coach Tom Moul. “The girls’ team has been consistently excellent all season. This group has leadership, a strong work ethic, and great camaraderie, and now they have the accomplishment of being the highest-achieving girls’ cross country team in Fox Chapel Area history. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
In addition, senior Adam Cook, who finished in 23rd place for all boys, and breakout freshman Christian Fitch, who was 26th, also will represent the district at the PIAA individual championships. Christian is one of just three WPIAL freshmen to qualify for states.
“Christian and Adam have worked hard all season and I am glad that their work has paid off with a state meet berth,” adds Coach Moul.
Overall, it has been a great year for the boys’ and girls’ teams, as well as the many individuals who comprise them. Both teams were 7-1 for the year and both won a number of cross country invitationals this season.
Additionally, at the highly prestigious 2016 PIAA Foundation Invitational held earlier in the season, Caelan, Sarena, and Annika medaled, and Christian had the top time among all freshmen. That event drew nearly 620 female and male runners, including all of Pennsylvania’s top competitors.