Sep 18, 2002 By Jim Downey 3 min read

Laurel Highlands had to be wary of Connellsville and Thomas Jefferson Tuesday when the three Section 2-AAA teams took to the course on the grounds of Laurel Highlands Senior High School as all three teams in the triangular entered the second week of the schedule undefeated. Behind the strong running of Mikie Monaghan and the clutch performances of her teammates, the Fillies emerged as the lone undefeated team of the three with a 26-31 win over Thomas Jefferson and a convincing 18-40 defeat of the Lady Falcons.

The Lady Jaguars salvaged a split by beating Connellsville, 19-40. Laurel Highlands (3-0) improves to 3-0 in the section with Thomas Jefferson (5-3) at 3-1 and Connellsville (4-5) dropping to 2-2.

Monaghan blew the field away, shattering her own course record in the process. The lone Fillies senior finished in 19:19, 23 seconds better than her old mark and almost three minutes ahead of Thomas Jefferson’s Debbie Barrett.

“It’s an advantage to be on my home course,” Monaghan said. “I like to get out in the beginning. I like being out in front. I feel more comfortable running in front. I try to focus on my race, my pace.

“I think we ran well as a team. Our big meet was today with Connellsville and Thomas Jefferson, and we did what we had to do today.”

Jessi Evans and Danielle LaPresta and the rest of the Fillies squad accomplished the job that had to be done. Evans finished third overall and LaPresta was fifth, but the mid-pack runners secured the victory.

Lauren Mahoney placed 10th overall, and then Rachel Chrash led a pack of four Laurel Highlands’ runners home in 11th. Rachel Perry, Sarah Workman and Bethany Work followed Chrash home for the victory.

Laurel Highlands girls coach Ron Morris’ game plan focused on Connellsville, though both teams were worthy of attention.

“We were the only three undefeated teams in the section. We knew Thomas Jefferson had three quality runners, but we mainly concentrated on Connellsville. I doesn’t work to go against three teams,” Morris said.

“Our mid-pack runners are starting to develop. They displaced both Thomas Jefferson and Connellsville’s runners. Mikie ran fantastic. It shows she is one of the premier runners in the state. Jessi and Danielle ran a great tactical race. It was a total team effort.”

Connellsville’s Shannon Kovack was cruising along in second place after the first mile, right on her desired split, but made a wrong turn soon after and fell off course, getting “hopelessly lost.” The Lady Falcons’ top runner gathered herself to finish in 25th place after teammate Lauren McCormick. Kovack was coming off a good performance in last Saturday’s Slippery Rock Invitational, placing 19th with a time of 21:16.

Christine Salandra finished seventh overall in 24:10 for the Lady Falcons’ top finisher. Brit Mancini was 10th and Molly Mullaney finished 15th overall.

Connellsville coach Joe Siecinski admitted the two opposing squads were tough and was glad Kovack’s misstep didn’t cost the team the meet.

“Shannon would’ve been second. I’m thankful it didn’t come down to that being the meet,” Siecinski said.

Connellsville travels to Albert Gallatin’s Friendship Hill course next Tuesday while Laurel Highlands joins Uniontown at Ringgold’s Mingo Park course, the former site of the WPIAL Southern Regional.