Quarzo selects NC State

Although her choice won’t be made official until mid-November, Brownsville senior Gionna Quarzo has verbally committed to continuing her running and academic careers at North Carolina State.
“I really wanted it. My mom wanted (her to select North Carolina State). As soon as I stepped on campus, I knew,” said Quarzo. “I really liked the coaches (Rollie Geiger and Laurie Henes).
“I liked the girls a lot. They don’t party. They take their running seriously.”
Quarzo plans to major in Early Childhood Education.
Two decades ago another local, record-breaking distance runner matriculated to North Carolina State when Southmoreland’s Chris Dugan ran for the Wolfpack. Dugan, who graduated from Southmoreland in 1997, still holds the state Class AA mark in the 3,200 when he completed the eight-lap race in 9:04.09 in 1997.
Dugan was a two-time All-American at North Carolina State in the steeplechase and competed in the 2004 Olympic trials in the event. He was also a three-time WPIAL cross country champion.
Quarzo also holds the PIAA record in the 3,200 after successfully defending her state gold last spring in a record-time of 10:25.91. Winning a WPIAL gold medal in cross country is the one of the few accomplishment Quarzo has yet to accomplish. She has finished second to Quaker Valley’s Annie Wicker the past two seasons and was fifth as a freshman.
Crowned Brownsville’s Homecoming Queen on Friday, Quarzo will set her sights on tying Laurel Highlands’ Jennifer Adamovich mark as a four-time county champion when the annual FCCA Cross Country Championship is held Thursday afternoon at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.