Monaghan leads LH girls past Uniontown and Ringgold
GINGER HILL – The host Ringgold team decided to run the boys and girls together, and Laurel Highlands’ Mikie Monaghan took the moment to shine by finishing in 18:54, placing second overall in both races. Monaghan’s best time to date led the Fillies to a pair of Section 2-AAA victories, a 15-50 trouncing of Ringgold and a 21-40 victory over rival Uniontown. The Lady Red Raiders, behind Scarlett Graham, defeated Ringgold, 15-44.
Laurel Highlands improves to 5-0 in the section as well as overall. Uniontown falls to 2-3 and 4-4. Uniontown hosts Connellsville and Elizabeth-Forward Monday at Penn State-Fayette. Albert Gallatin and West Mifflin close the section next Tuesday at Laurel Highlands.
Both Laurel Highlands girls coach Ron Morris and Uniontown coach Joe Everhart had nothing but praise for the senior.
“Mikie’s running fantastic. I thought she ran tremendous for playing soccer last night. I don’t know how Mikie and Scarlett do it,” Everhart said.
“Mikie ran spectacular. She broke the 19-minute barrier on this course. It’s not an easy course,” Morris said.
Graham was second with a time of 20:10, then a pair of Fillies finished, Danielle LaPresta and Jessi Evans. Jill Monahan finished fifth for the Lady Red Raiders before a slew of Laurel Highlands runners came in.
Morris not only praised his top runner, but also had high words for the LaPresta, Evans and the mid-pack runners.
“The top three out of our four runners had their best times of the year on a 5K course. The mid-pack runners are the ones who solidified the win,” Morris said.
Morris was a bit disappointed the rivals met in each other the road, proposing a schedule change for the future.
“When you battle Uniontown, it’s doesn’t matter where you run. The competition is there. The rivalry is there. The kids step up. Uniontown, Connellsville and Laurel Highlands should be the final race of the year. That’s how the season should end.”
Everhart was please with his top three runners and how those upperclassmen have stepped it up this season.
“The upper classmen have been pretty consistent. Jill ran a tough race, but Laurel Highlands has too much depth for us.”
The two teams will see more of each other in the coming week with Laurel Highlands running in the Uniontown Invitational at Penn State-Fayette Saturday morning and both teams vying for personal and team glory in the county meet on Thursday, Oct. 3 also at Penn State-Fayette.