October 31, 2009

 

The GFS Girls Cross Country team ended its season with an impressive second place finish at the Pennsylvania Independent School State Championship Meet. This was the Tigers' fourth consecutive top two finish at States, including a win in 2007.  Months of tough training - beginning in the summer and ranging through heat, rain, and cold - paid off for the Tigers. Their speed was surpassed only by an unusually strong Notre Dame team, who are ranked as the fastest small school in the state, public or private. The Tigers brought back several medals as well as a plaque for their runner-up finish.

Saturday at Mercersburg Academy's spacious campus, the weather was clear and pleasant, but a strong wind slowed the times slightly. Senior captain Jasia Kaulbach fought through it in a duel with Notre Dame standout and defending champ, Maria Seykora. Jasia ran a gutsy race and crossed the line in second, breaking 20 minutes and really making Seykora work for first. In her four years at States she has never finished lower than fourth place! Brooke Palus made a nice comeback after a tough FSL meet, finishing second for the team, running a smart, evenly paced race to earn 14th place, good for second team all state. Brooke bested a pack of runners from the third place Hill School, providing a major boost to the team. Freshman state medalist Isabelle Goldstein ran a strong and solid race, as she has all season, securing 19th place out of 92 finishers. Madeleine Doggett had a particularly strong finale to her short, but brilliant, high school cross country career. The senior was competitive throughout the race, and proved her toughness by passing three of fourth-place Agnes Irwin's girls in the final half mile. The final scorer for GFS was sophomore Kristen Kelly, who built on her excellent performance at the FSL meet to run away with 35th place,  in a season best time. Lucy Guida was not far behind in 43rd, finishing out a stellar first year of cross country. Ally Daniels rounded out the Tigers' varsity, rallying in the final mile to finish 65th.

In the JV race, GFS had two girls in the top five. Addison Hoffman was in the mix with the front runners the whole race, and came away with an excellent fourth place finish. Jess Love picked up speed throughout the latter half of the race, and followed Addison in 5th.  Tess Doggett closed her first cross season with an 18th place finish, and showed that she is not only a runner, but a racer. Lexi Brown was as tough as ever, and passed several runners in the last half mile to finish 24th in the final race of an admirable high school career.

Varsity
Jasia Kaulbach: 2nd, 19:52 *medal winner**first team all state*
Brooke Palus: 14th, 21:32 *medal winner**second team all state*
Isabelle Goldstein: 19th, 21:58 *medal winner*
Madeleine Doggett: 24th, 22:33
Kristen Kelly: 35th, 23:03
Lucy Guida: 43rd, 23:18
Ally Daniels: 65th, 25:45

92 total finishers, 16 teams 

JV
Addison Hoffman: 4th, 23:22
Jessica Love: 5th, 23:43
Tess Doggett: 18th, 25:06
Lexi Brown: 24th, 25:40

42 total finishers