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2001 PA Cross Country Season Preview

Girls AA Individuals

Defending state AA XC champ Jesi Christiansen, Greenville, halfway to her first XC state championship in 2000. 

The athletes at the top of the Girls AA elite list are used to medalling at States. Let's start with two-time state champ (XC and 3200), junior Jesi Christensen of Greenville. As a freshman, Jesi was second to now-graduated Lauren Shaffer of West Allegheny. She then dominated the 2000 championship race, running the tough Bucknell course in 19:33. She repeated her dominance in the spring by taking the 3200 in 11:04.16. Christensen always looks like she is racing to win. Then does. And that shouldn't change this season. 

The Huss twins with one of their coaches at the Northeast Footlockers in NYC. 

Close on her heels is another junior, who is the number one girl on the State Champ team, Wyomissing. Debbie Huss won the District 3 race on this year's state course, and was only three seconds behind Christensen in XC. She not only comes with her own team, she comes with a twin sister, who was 12th two years ago, and 13th last year. Amy was 5th in the 3200 at States. The Huss girls also have important regional experience, having competed in the sophomore race last November at Northeast Regionals, where they finished 3rd and 8th, respectively. Both ran very close times to their Bucknell times on the challenging Van Cortlandt course. Either one could surprise Christensen this year.

As is always the case with female athletes, there are freshman who make a mark their first year in high school. The top two last year, now in 10th grade, were Meaghan Robbins, Western Wayne (3rd in XC, 6th in the 3200), and Joanna Malow, New Hope Solebury (4th in XC). Right behind those two in 5th and 6th at XC are two multi-year state medallists, Nicki Angstadt, Fleetwood, and Stacey Muchal, Valley View. Now seniors, Angstadt has was 9th as a freshman, and 14th as a sophomore, plus 7th in the 3200; while Muchal was 16th as a sophomore. 

Stepping into contention is Mansfield's Charity Learn, a senior, 9th in XC, who broke out to get 2nd in the 3200 just two seconds behind Jesi Christiansen in the spring. And sophomore Kyleigh Millhouse of Boiling Springs, got 4th in the spring in the 3200, showing nice improvement from her 56th place finish in XC.

Other returning medallists include junior Desiree Bower (7th in XC), Tulpehocken; Bishop Guilfoyle soph Sonja Hinish, 10th in XC, 9th in the 3200; junior Trisha Fullmer, York Suburban, 16th in XC, junior Jenny Stevens, Wyalusing Valley, 17th; senior Rachel Tutmaker, Eisenhower, 20th; Tamaqua junior Liz Manness, 23rd; senior Heather Fitzgerald, Bloomsburg, 24th; and Marion Center sophomore Nicole Fairman, 25th.