Cross Country Game Summaries

North Allegheny became the first school in PIAA history to win both the girls and boys cross country titles with a dominant performance on Saturday in Hershey, PA. The NA Boys won their 12^th state championship with a team score of 90, besting second-place LaSalle College by 22 points. The Lady Tigers claimed their fourth PIAA crown with a team score of 65, which was 41 points better than second-place West Chester Henderson.

The day started with the girls’ cross-country competition and the Lady Tigers were sparked by junior Hannah Lindgren’s fourth place finish with a time of 19:15. Sophomore Keely Misutka took ninth place with a time of 19:35. Other contributors to the gold medal included freshman Rachel Hockenberry (12^th), junior Caroline Daggett (17^th), freshman Maura Mlecko (23^rd), senior Ally Christy (32^nd) and junior Jenna Mlecko (43^rd). For a look at the entire Class AAA listing of results, click here.

The NA Boys were led by a spectacular performance from senior Zachary Kinne and junior Daniel McGoey who won silver and bronze individual medals, respectively. Kinned turned in a time of 16:07 and McGoey was close behind with a time of 16:09. Also contributing to the NA title run were senior Ethan James (24^th), Stephen Nalepa (29^th), sophomore Andrew Kollitz (32^nd), senior Luke Turkovich (48^th) and sophomore Connor Foody (82rd). For a look at the entire Class AAA boys results, click here.

Congratulations to head coach John Neff and the entire North Allegheny cross country team for a tremendous 2018 season.

The North Allegheny cross country teams took part in the WPIAL championship on Thursday afternoon and both squads came away from California University of PA with a gold medal finish. The NA Girls posted a team score of 45, which was 63 points better than second-place Oakland Catholic. The WPIAL crown is the eighth overall and first since 2004 for the Lady Tigers.

The NA Boys totaled a team score of 63 to take first place and dethrone defending champion Seneca Valley. The Raiders finished in second place with a score of 84. Thursday’s title win is the 29^th for the NA Boys cross country program, the most of any school in WPIAL history.

Leading the way for the Lady Tigers with top-10 finishes were sophomore Keeley Misutka (6th), junior Caroline Daggett (7^th), freshman Rachel Hockenberry (9^th) and junior Hannah Lindgren (10^th). Senior Ally Christy (13^th), freshman Maura Mlecko (22^nd) and sophomore Emily Thompson (39^th) also contributed to NA’s impressively low team score. For a look at the girls WPIAL Class AAA results, click here.

The NA Boys were led by individual champion Daniel McGoey, who garnered first place with a time of 16:01. McGoey is NA’s first individual boys WPIAL champion since Matt McGoey in 2014.

Senior Zachary Kinne took eighth place, crossing the finish line in 16:50. Also contributing to the Tigers’ title run was sophomore Andrew Kollitz (13^th), junior Stephen Nalepa (20^th), senior Ethan James (21^st), senior Luke Turkovich (31^st) and sophomore Connor Foody (41^st). For a look at the boys WPIAL Class AAA results, click here.

With the WPIAL title at hand, the NA cross country team turns its attention to the PIAA championship on Saturday, November 3.

The North Allegheny cross country teams won the TSTCA championship on Thursday afternoon at California University of Pennsylvania.

The NA girls won with a very low score of 40, with all five scorers placing in the top 14 of the race. Hannah Lindgren (2nd), Keeley Misutka (6th), Caroline Daggett (8th), Rachel Hockenberry (10th) and Ally Christy (14th). Maura Mlecko (20th) and Emily Thompson (24th) rounded out the top seven.  Complete results can be found by clicking here.

The NA boys won with an impressive 65 points.  Zach Kinne (2nd), Andrew Kollitz (13th), Stephen Nalepa (15th), Ethan James (17th), and Luke Turkovich (18th).  Scott Nalepa (22nd) and Connor Foody (24th) rounded out the top seven. Complete results can be found by click here.

Both teams will compete at the WPIAL championships next Thursday on the same course.

Racing on a muddy and hilly Butler course, both NA teams bested Butler and Shaler, finishing off the dual meet schedule undefeated (8-0). Both teams earned a section championship with their victories.

Hannah Lindgren and Keeley Misutka paced the Lady Tigers to section gold, finishing first and second in the three-team race. Ally Christy (4th), Rachel Hockenberry (7th), Maura Mlecko (8th), Caroline Daggett (9th), and a strong race from Emily Thompson (10th) rounded out the top seven. Together they defeated Butler, 18-45, and Shaler, 20-41.

Dan McGoey led the boys to the section title with another individual victory. Stephen Nalepa (3rd), Luke Turkovich (6th), Ethan James (7th), Drew Kollitz (8th), Ryan Barry (10th) and Kelso Fiedler (11th) completed the seven scorers.  The Tigers defeated Butler 22-37 and Shaler 18-45.

The Tigers’ next race will be Tri-States at California University of PA on Thursday, October 18.

The North Allegheny cross country team traveled to Seneca Valley for a rescheduled meet that was originally scheduled for this past Tuesday.  Facing some of the best competition in the section, NAXC took home the gold against both the Seneca Valley Raiders and the North Hills Indians (girls and boys).

The NA boys team ran determined and without a doubt had their best collective performance of year when it was needed the most.  At one and two miles, it looked as though Seneca Valley was going to win, however the Tigers refused to give in. Pulling away from Seneca Valley’s top runners in the last mile was junior standout Dan McGoey.  McGoey controlled the race the whole way and punished the field in the last 1200 meters. Seneca had a strong top trio who took the next three places. With less than a mile to go the boys rallied, clawing their way back into the race.  Stephen Nalepa led a chase pack of Tigers that decided they were not going to lose to their section rivals. Senior Luke Turkovich had his best race of the season finishing just behind Nalepa in the sixth overall spot. Just one second behind Turkovich was fellow senior Ethan James who again ran a come-from-behind race.  James finished just ahead of Tiger sophomore sensation, Andrew Kollitz (who ran the same time). Nalepa, ran the best race of his cross-country career with a refuse-to-lose gutsy finish to hold off Seneca Valley’s fourth man. He was the top freshmen in the race and is one of the top freshmen in the state.  Kelso Fielder also had a great race, rounding out the top seven for NA. The seven outstanding individual performances combined for an impressive 27-30 team victory over the Raiders and a dominant 15-48 win over the Indians.

The NA girls’ team also ran well.  The Lady Tigers showed their stripes early taking the top three spots in the first mile and they never let go.  Hannah Lindgren, Keeley Misutka and Caroline Daggett grabbed spots 1-3 with some very fast times on the almost three-mile course.  Seneca took the fourth and fifth spots overall and then NA brought home the next five spots. Rachel Hockenberry was sixth, Ally Christy took seventh, Maura Mlecko claimed eighth and Jenna Mlecko was ninth.  The girls beat Seneca Valley 19-42 and had a perfect score against North Hills, 15-50.

The Tigers will not race again until next Tuesday, Oct. 2, where they will wrap up section competition against Butler and Shaler at Butler’s home course.