Saving Grace: Lady Raiders’ Trimmer captures top running honors
Jim DowneyRinggold freshman Lily Brenneman runs through the second mile in the Section 2-AAA finale at Laurel Highlands on Sept. 26.
Jim DowneySouthmoreland junior Lexi Ohler (right) keeps pace with a couple runners during the 2023 WPIAL Class AA Cross Country Championship at White Oak Park.
Jim DowneyGeibel Catholic sophomore Emma Larkin is encouraged by her coach (and mother) Sarah Larkin during the 2023 WPIAL Class AA Cross Country Championship at White Oak Park.
Belle Vernon’s Tessa Rodriguez looks to the finish line in the 2023 FCCA Cross Country Championship at Connellsville.
Jim DowneyUniontown’s Emily Angelo (right) runs with a pack off runners early in the 2023 A.J. Everhart Invitational at Penn State Fayette.
Uniontown junior Grace Trimmer had quite a season, finishing first in the county meet, third in the WPIAL Class AA championship and seventh in state.
Trimmer dominated Section 2-AAA meets and placed fifth in the A.J. Everhart Invitational and Red, White & Blue Invitational.
Those accomplishments more than qualified Trimmer to be recognized as the Herald-Standard Girls Runner of the Year.
Trimmer also led the Lady Raiders to the section title, county team crown and the WPIAL Class AA team bronze medal. She also finished third in the TSTCA Invitational.
Teammate Emily Angelo joins Trimmer on the first team after placing fourth in the county meet and 15th in the WPIAL championship, and providing a steady performance to complement Trimmer for the Lady Raiders.
Southmoreland junior Lexi Ohler earned her third trip to the state meet after she finished 11th in the WPIAL Class AA championship. She improved her finish in the state final by 64 spots and almost two minutes from 2022.
Ohler placed 10th in the Westmoreland County Coaches Association meet.
Belle Vernon’s Tessa Rodriguez finished just ahead of Ohler for 10th place in the WPIAL Class AA meet and a berth into states, and placed second behind Trimmer in the county championship.
Rodriguez finished eighth in the TSTCA Invitational.
Ringgold freshman Lily Brenneman had a strong opening season by finishing 23rd in the WPIAL Class AA championship for a berth into the state meet. She earned Washington County All-County honors with a top-10 finish.
Angelique Mariana was a solid runner for the Lady Rams, flipping with Brenneman for the top spot throughout the season.
Geibel Catholic sophomore Emma Larkin rounds out the first-team honorees after she qualified for her second PIAA Class A Championship after finishing 16th in the WPIAL meet. She placed third in the county behind Trimmer and Rodriguez.
Honorable mention recognition goes to Uniontown’s Arrington Scott and Paisley Murtha, Elizabeth Forward’s Brooke Yurkovich, Laurel Highlands’ Taylor Schwertfeger, and Connellsville’s Zoey Thomas.
Scott, Murtha, Schwertfeger and Thomas all earned FCCA all-county honors.
Uniontown’s Joe Everhart is the Coach of the Year. He led his Lady Raiders to another FCCA team title and a third-place finish in the WPIAL final. The Lady Raiders edged Ringgold in the season finale for the Section 2-AAA crown.
Ringgold’s Jennifer McMichael earns mention, as well, with her Lady Rams winning the Washington County meet title and the Big South Conference meet.