FCCA to host cross country event today
Brownsville’s Cameron Coffey has graduated and now runs at California (Pa.), but the top six female finishers return for the annual Fayette County Coaches Association Cross Country Championship hosted on the grounds of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. The junior high race opens the proceedings today at 3:30 p.m., with the boys varsity, girls varsity and junior varsity races to follow.
Uniontown’s Julie Friend won the girls title last year as a freshman, finishing ahead of then-fellow freshman Elli Monaghan of Laurel Highlands. The Fillies’ Brandi Liptock, the Lady Raiders’ Caycee Guthrie and Rachael Diamond, Connellsville’s Kensey Durst and Brownsville’s Kelsey Johnson are all returning All-County runners.
Laurel Highlands edged Uniontown, 34-35, for the girls team title.
Although Coffey has graduated, a number of All-County performers return to compete for the open FCCA individual crown.
Laurel Highlands’ Justin Kostelnik and Michael Cecchini, Uniontown’s Tommy Kegg and Torin Kelley, Connellsville’s Adam Siecinski and Nick Cicio, and Frazier’s Sawyer Palonder all finished in the top 10 last year. Senior Anthony Cecchini just missed the podium in 11th place, but is a previous All-County runner.
As with the girls, the race for the team title was close with the Mustangs finishing first with 47 points and Uniontown second with 53.
The county meet begins a big three-week period for local runners. The Tri-State Coaches Association Invitational and Brush Creek Invitational are next Thursday, and the WPIAL Class AAA/AA Championships will be held on Thursday, Oct. 28, at Cooper’s Lake Campground.