Oct 26, 2017 By The 2 min read

Several local runners look to earn a return trip to the state finals today with a full slate of races in the WPIAL Cross Country Championships at Cooper’s Lake Campground near Slippery Rock.

No rain is forecasted for the six races and temperatures are expected to reach the low 50s.

Runners will compete on a different course than in past years due to the closing of a parking lot on the grounds of the campground.

The competition begins with the girls Class A race at 12:45 p.m. The Class AA girls follow at 1:30 and the Class AAA girls hit the course at 2:15.

The Class A boys toe the starting line at 3 p.m., followed by the Class AA boys at 3:45 p.m. and the Class AAA boys at 4:30 p.m.

The Geibel Catholic, California and West Greene boys and girls compete in Class A, as do the Brownsville boys.

The Brownsville, Ringgold, Uniontown, Southmoreland, Yough, Elizabeth Forward, Yough and Waynesburg Central girls are in the Class AA race, with Uniontown, Waynesburg, Laurel Highlands, Ringgold, Elizabeth Forward, Southmoreland, Belle Vernon and Yough in the boys race.

Both Connellsville and Albert Gallatin participate in Class AAA, along with the Laurel Highlands girls.

West Greene’s Lampe twins, Madison and McKenna, qualified for the Class A state meet last year, with McKenna making the podium in ninth place.

Four local girls finished in the top 10 in Class AA in 2016, including Brownsville’s Gionna Quarzo (5), Sara Vance (7), and Jessica Vance (9), and Southmoreland’s Kaylee Farino (8). Uniontown’s Madison Bertovich placed 20th for a trip to the state meet.

Uniontown’s Cameron Kutek grabbed the 24th and final spot out of Class AA. Laurel Highlands’ Brendan Kopich trailed by just five places and six seconds.

California’s Charles Roberts was also in the hunt last year in Class A, placing 29th overall.

Frazier’s Nyoah Marteny secured the last Class A berth in 24th place, eight seconds ahead of Roberts.

The top three boys and girls teams in Class AAA and AA earn a spot in the PIAA Championships, as well as in Class A. Class A sends four girls teams to the state meet.

The top-15 non-team individual boys and girls also qualify in Class AAA and AA, as do the top 15 boys in Class AA. The top 20 Class A girls qualify.