Lady Raiders sweep Section 2-AAA meet
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard
Connellsville’s Callie Cunningham leads McKeesport’s Macayle Wade around a turn on Uniontown’s course at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, during Tuesday’s Section 2-AAA quintangular meet.
Uniontown's Madison Bertovich makes a turn after the mile mark on the Lady Raiders' course at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus in Tuesday's quintangular Section 2-AAA meet. Bertovich finished first in 22:39.04.
Connellsville's Callie Cunningham (front) makes a turn on the course ahead of McKeesport's Macayle Wade during Tuesday's Section 2-AAA quintangular meet at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
Uniontown’s Madison Bertovich was a quick study Tuesday afternoon, learning yet another new route on her home course to win the opening Section 2-AAA quintangular at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
Bertovich finished first in 22:38.04, 13 seconds ahead of McKeeport’s Macayle Wade.
The Lady Raiders swept the meet, defeating Albert Gallatin, 15-50, Connellsville, 19-45, McKeesport, 23-38, and West Mifflin, 15-50.
The Lady Falcons defeated Albert Gallatin, 22-35, McKeesport, 26-31, and West Mifflin, 15-50.
The Lady Colonials edged McKeesport, 27-28, and defeated Albert Gallatin, 15-50.
Bertovich ran a new course last week after construction at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, forced a revamping of the tradition track.
Well, the course was altered again for Tuesday’s section meet, so Bertovich pieced together what knowledge she gained from past meets.
“The ending was a lot like last year’s course. The first half I knew, so I put it all together and it worked out,” explained Bertovich.
Bertovich knew the McKeesport duo of Macayle and Makaila Wade would be a presence in the race.
“I knew I was competing with the McKeesport girls so I had to stick with them,” said Bertovich.
Initially, though, Connellsville sophomore Callie Cunningham led the way through the first mile or so. The sophomore finished third in a time of 23:08.60 in just her third cross country meet.
The course was plagued by gnats and it was overcast and rainy at the beginning of the girls race. By the midpoint, though, the sun fought through the clouds, warming up the afternoon.
“It got really humid halfway through, on the uphill. I started struggling,” said Cunningham. “This course is pretty tough, in my opinion.”
Cunningham is one of the Lady Falcons’ top soccer players and has already committed to Kent State. She has successfully juggled her athletic calendar, to date.
“I have a big agenda,” Cunningham said with a smile. “I have it color coded. Both coaches (cross country’s Pat Mullaney and soccer’s Jeff Puskar) are pretty flexible.”
McKeesport’s Makaila Wade finished two seconds behind Cunningham in fourth place, with Uniontown’s Megan Kaplan fifth in 23:57.65.
West Mifflin’s Jenna Zabelsky (25:13.73), and Uniontown’s Esme Bisbee (25:15.55), Brooke Bertovich (25:59.35), Macy Mills (26:06.36), and Molly Killinger (26:09.62) rounded out the top-10 finishers.
Natalya Thin Elk was the first Albert Gallatin runner to finish, placing 13th overall 26:42.98.