Tigers pick up decisive victories at North Park
by: Cross Country Contributor
North Allegheny Cross Country hosted section rivals Pine-Richland, Oakland Catholic and Central Catholic on a warm and sunny September day (80°F, dewpoint 57°F ) in North Park. The Tigers controlled the course and came away with decisive victories on both sides.
The Lady Tigers ran with confidence from the opening mile and quickly established a strong pack up front.
Gabriela Pizon (2nd, 20:29) and Lydia Stuart (3rd, 20:36) set the tone, pushing the early pace.
Elinor Handel (5th, 21:06), Juliet Forrest (6th, 21:10), and Leila Nocera (7th, 21:11) sealed the scoring five.
Depth followed close behind, with Madeleine Jablonski (8th) and Abby Gordish (9th) displacing key rivals.
Team results:
NA 20 – 43 Oakland Catholic
NA 18 – 45 Pine-Richland
The win showcased both top-end strength and pack depth, as 10 Tigers finished in the top 11 overall.
The Tiger boys left little doubt, putting on a clinic by sweeping the top five places.
Andrew Peigh broke the tape in 16:03, followed by Gatik Hirwani (16:23), Wyatt Case (16:43), Colin Clarkson (17:11), and Sam Patterson (17:15) for a perfect 15-point score.
Jack Curren (6th) and Justin Peoples (8th) backed up the lead pack, ensuring NA’s dominance.
Team results:
NA 15 – 49 Central Catholic (Vikings)
NA 15 – 50 Pine-Richland (Rams)
It was a classic dual meet sweep for the boys who took 9 out of the top 10 spots in the race.
The Tigers return to action this weekend at the PIAA Foundation Invitational in Hershey, where they will test themselves against many of the state’s best.
