Quarzo, Metts look to defend FCCA titles
Brownsville’s Gionna Quarzo and Uniontown’s Austen Metts return to Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus this afternoon, looking to defend their FCCA Cross Country Championship individual titles.
The schedule begins at 2:30 p.m. at Uniontown’s home course on the grounds of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, with the junior high girls race. The boys race follows at 3. The girls varsity race is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., with the boys race to follow at 4:15. The junior varsity boys and girls race caps the schedule at 5 p.m. Awards are to be presented at 5:45 p.m.
Quarzo made a splash as a freshman in 2016 when she edged teammate Sara Vance to win the county crown in a time of 19:26.
The Lady Falcons also had top-5 finishes from Jessica Vance (3, 20:09.2) and Hannah DeWitt (5, 21:03.74) to easily win the team title.
Ashton Reposky finished second in the junior high race last year, and joins the aforementioned quartet as Brownsville looks to repeat as team champions.
Uniontown’s Madison Bertovich broke up the Brownsville run to the finish line last year, finishing fourth on her home course in 20:49.01. Teammates Macy Mills (7, 21:26.94) and Brooke Bertovich (10, 21:55.75) also earned All-County status. Laurel Highlands’ Bailey Rohm finished sixth last year in 21:20.06.
Connellsville’s Callie Cunningham is in her first year of cross country, but the sophomore soccer player ran well in Section 2-AAA meets this fall and should be a contender for the All-County team. Teammate Shelby Basinger, a freshman, won the girls junior high race last year.
While Frazier no longer fields a team, Belle Vernon will fill the void. Grace Henderson, Hannah Seitzinger and Taylor Kovatch could be in the mix for All-County honors.
Metts and Connellsville’s Logan Gonzales battled down the stretch and through the finish line with Metts winning the county title in 17:26.5. Gonzales was second in 17:27.50.
The Red Raiders won the team title and the Section 2-AAA champs should be positioned to do so this year with returning All-County runners Logan Maust (3, 17:40.01), Riley Gilleland (4, 17:42.92), and Cameron Kutek (8, 17:54.67). Sam Killinger has had a strong fall season and was the junior varsity champion last year with a time of 17:48. Teammate Harry Strauser was second in the JV race in 18:13.
Connellsville’s Josh Hustosky is the other returning All-County runner after he finished ninth last year in 17:55.
A trio of sophomores, Laurel Highlands’ Brendan Kopich and Albert Gallatin’s Jackson Core, as well as Connellsville first-year runner Dom Prestipino, are expected to give the Red Raiders and Gonzales a run for the individual title and All-County status.
The Leopards’ Brett Seich is also a contender for All-County honors.