The Bellwood-Antis Cross Country team finished up a very successful season last week. Blake Pennington, Julie Kraft, and Cameron Gallagher ran in the PIAA championship in Hershey to conclude their year.
Pennington finished up in 61st place in the 1A race with a time of 21:56 to record B-A’s highest finish.
“The course was pretty hard, but it was cool to run,” she said. “I was excited and happy to be there.”
When asked about the course itself, she told the Blueprint, “It was mostly just a lot of hills. The first mile was a hill and there was another one leading up to the end.”
Kraft ran alongside Blake and finished with a time of 22:50 placing her 112th.
District 6 had three top 10 finishers in the 1A race, as well, with Foprest Hills Bella Ascherl finishing second, Juniata Valley’s Ella McCrum seventh, and Richland’s
“I think I did fantastic. Everybody did,” said Gallagher. Even though I didn’t beat my personal record, to be there was such an accomplishment. “I am proud of everyone on that team and thankful to the coaches who encouraged and pulled me throughout the season.”
Jaxon Schoedel from Mohawk won the boys 1A race with a time of 15:52.
All three of these athletes did their part to carry on a legacy left behind by Bellwood-Antis alumni. In 2022, Lexi Lovrich became the first B-A runner to go to states since Jenna Bartlett in 2018. Earlier, Ellen Crook qualified in 2014.
Ben Hatch ran there on the boys side in 2006 and 2007.
Congratulations to all the runners for running your hearts out and wrapping up your season in style!
