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Mt. Lebanon harrier repeats as WPIAL champion

By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 6 min read
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Photos: Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Meredith Rhodes (3221) of Upper St. Clair charges to the front of the pack along with Peters Township’s Sydney Shock (left) and Abby Poe (3135) from South Fayette during the WPIAL Class 3A girls’ cross country championship race. Shock finished sixth overall with an 18:55.5 time and Rhodes followed in 11th position with a 19:02 mark to gain berths in the PIAA state championships to be held Nov. 4 in Hershey.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Logan St. John Kletter crosses the finish line in first place during the WPIAL Class AAA girls cross country championship race at White Oak Park. It was the second straight victory for the Mt. Lebanon senior. She won the race in 17:47.4

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Mt. Lebanon finished runner-up in the team standings during the WPIAL Class 3A cross country championships. The Blue Devils took second to North Allegheny.

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Sydney Shock of Peters Township finished ninth overall at the WPIAL cross country championships and gained a berth in the PIAA finals set for Nov. 4 in Hershey.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Jenna Lang muscles her way into position for a top six finish in the WPIAL during the Class AAA cross country championship race. The Bethel Park senior clocked an 18:48.7 time and gained a berth in the PIAA finals set for Nov. 4 in Hershey.

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Logan St. John Kletter makes her move on the course during the WPIAL championships. The Mt. Lebanon senior won the Class AAA race in 17:47.4 for her second straight title. She went on to capture the state crown on Nov. 4 in Hershey.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Alaa-Eddine Guetari of South Fayette checks his shoulder and wards off a charging Michael Gauntner of North Allegheny and Plum’s Gabriel Powell at the finish line during the WPIAL Class 3A cross country championships. Guetari finished fifth overall in the race with a 16:16.70 time and earned a berth in the PIAA championships set for Nov. 4 in Hershey.

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Alaa-Eddine Guetari of South Fayette edges Michael Gauntner of North Allegheny and Plum’s Gabriel Powell at the finish line during the WPIAL Class 3A cross country championships. Guetari finished fifth overall in the race with a 16:16.70 time and earned a berth in the PIAA championships set for Nov. 4 in Hershey.

A nagging injury proved a blessing in disguise for Logan St. John Kletter. A tender hip kept the Mt. Lebanon senior out of many invitationals this fall but it did not deter her from repeating as WPIAL champion in cross country.

“The season was not what I had hoped for. I could have won races in earlier meets but I really think I needed that break because I did a lot training, particularly over the summer,” St. John Kletter said. “It was a good break and gave me time to mentally and physically rest.”

After cruising to victory during the Tri-State Coaches Association meet, nearly 15 seconds faster than the competition, St. John Kletter demonstrated she was prepared to defend her title. On Oct. 26 on the same course at White Oak Park, the North Carolina recruit breezed to victory in 17:47.40, more than six seconds ahead of WPIAL runner-up Robin Kucler of North Allegheny.

“Logan had a phenomenal race,” said Lebo skipper Oscar Shutt.

After the initial mile, St. John Kletter made her move. She separated herself from the pack.

“We knew they would go out fast but we told her to be patient until the mile,” Shutt said. “Logan made her move and was able to open up a gap. She was able to keep opening things up.”

St. John Kletter, who is a 3,200-meter state champion in track, was pleased with the quick pace. “I tried to use that to help me,” she said.

“I didn’t have a set game plan but I went into it hoping to win and see what happens in the race and fight for that. I think I did a better job of hanging back at the start and focusing on myself until I could make my move.”

St. John Kletter’s break came on the second hill.

“It happens when I feel like going and I felt it right there,” she said. “After that, it was about hanging on. I was a little worried but that’s when I tell myself to push, use my arms and just finish it up.”

With another district title in hand, St. John Kletter now has her sights set on a PIAA championship. She finished eighth last year but was state runner-up as a sophomore.

“I’m super excited and happy to end my WPIAL cross country career this way. It’s a god feeling,” St. John Kletter said. “Now, I just want to go to states and see what I can do. Do as well as I can and have fun,” she added.

Mt. Lebanon ensured the trip to Hershey for the PIAA championships on Nov. 4 would be even more delightful for St. John Kletter because the Blue Devils finished runner-up in the Class AAA team standings during the WPIAL meet.

Caroline Adams joined St. John Kletter on the podium with her 10th-place finish with an 18:59 time.

Maeve McNamee (24th), Lyra Stiglitz, Grace Goslin, Mackenna Pozza and Kate Mooney also contributed to Lebo’s score of 60 points for second place in the team standings and one of the three team berths for the PIAA championships.

North Allegheny captured the girls team title with 86 points. Norwin edged Peters Township for the third slot based on the finish of its sixth harrier.

The Lady Indians, however, qualified three individuals for the state meet.

Sydney Shock submitted a top 10 performance. The senior finished ninth overall with an 18:55.5 time. Her showing was four spots higher than last year when she qualified for the state meet.

“I tired to take the first half comfortable and by the second half when I knew I was having a good time, I knew I belonged up there,” Shock said. “So, I tried to stay there with the leaders. Being healthy and consistent were keys to my success.

“At states, I don’t want to get caught up in goals,” she added. “I just want to have my best race.”

Grace Senneway and Megan McKenna submitted showings good enough to join Shock at states. Senneway placed 16th overall with a 19:20.07 time while McKenna finished 18th with a 19:30.8 time.

Upper St. Clair’s Meredith and Lydia Rhodes gained PIAA berths. They finished 11th and 12th overall, separated by .01.

Bethel Park’s Jenna Lang earned her fourth straight PIAA berth. The senior, who is committed to Coastal Carolina, finished sixth overall. She clocked a time of 18:48.7 before collapsing at the finish line.

“I was exhausted,” she said. “The last 800 was definitely a battle. I was just trying to hang on.”

A standout middle-distance runner in track, Lang admitted, “I am good at 800 except when it comes to a 3-mile run. I gave it all I had.”

Guetari qualifiesOn the boys side, there were few surprises as Drew Griffith of Butler and Ryan Pajak of Ringgold dominated, winning consecutive championships in Class AAA and AA respectively.

Pajak won his third title and eclipsed the course record set earlier in the day by Griffith. Pajak won his race in 15:04 while Griffith won in 15:05.20. Both are Notre Dame recruits.

However, Alaa-Eddine Guetari of South Fayette managed to keep pace. The South Fayette senior earned a PIAA qualifying berth by finishing fifth overall in Class AAA with a 16:16.7 time.

Guetari said he achieved his objective of placing around where he did for the TriState Coaches Association Meet as well as making it to states for the PIAA competition to be held Nov. 4 in Hershey but he was disappointed he was off his record pace of 15:56.

“This is a fast course and if you are going to PR, then this is the place do it,” he said. “I could have executed better.”

Guetari noted he went out too fast and “died off” during the second mile.

“I managed a kick at the end,” he said. “Drew definitely brings it. He takes it out fast.”

Guitari admitted though that he was trying to stay with the Fox Chapel Rowan Gwin, who was edged out of second place by North Allegheny’s Jack Betram.

At the PIAA meet, Guetari plans to improve upon last year’s 35th place. He is positioned for a Top 25 finish.

“That would get me a medal,” he explained.

“I think I can do it as long as I stay calm and collected and keep training.”

Guetari’s teammates: Josh O’Korn and Griffin Martin had top 40 showings, finishing 33rd and 38th.

Other local male finishers in the top 50 included: Upper St. Clair’s Andrew Hess (20th) and Caleb Guarino (25th); Lebo’s Robert Tang (23rd), Ethan Warner (26th) and Jack Ellen (47th); as well as Peters Township’s Zach Byers (42nd).

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