JEFFREY REINHART jreinhart@LNPnews.com
Here is my L-L League girls’ cross country league championship preview capsule:
WHERE: Ephrata Middle School.
WHEN: Thursday, 4 p.m.
DEFENDING CHAMP: Hempfield’s Sydney Clark won last year’s race, also at Ephrata Middle School, in 19:10.80.
THE FAVORITES: There was a serious logjam among the leaders in the regular season, making it nearly impossible to place a bull’s-eye on one runner. The final top five looked this way: Penn Manor senior Megan Ecker (21 meets, 22 points, 1.05 average), Garden Spot freshman Emily Martin (21-22-1.05), Warwick sophomore Allison Mannon (17-20-1.18), Elco sophomore Kayleigh Perry (21-25-1.19) and Lancaster Mennonite senior Lisa Wingard (21-25-1.24). … Clark, the defending champ, finished her senior season seventh in the standings (12-15-1.25).
TEAM RACE: Manheim Township won the regular season championship with a 21-0 record, finishing ahead of Warwick (20-1), Cedar Crest (17-4), Ephrata (17-4), L-S (17-4) and Lancaster Mennonite (17-4), so keep an eye on the team competition because that appears to be as wide open as the individual race. … Township will be out to defend its title. The Blue Streaks won last year in a total time of 1:41:06.70, for an average of 20:13.34 for 58 team points. Mennonite was second with 90 team points.
NOTABLE: Ecker’s lone loss was to Martin in a dual meet last week in Columbia, and Martin’s lone loss was to Perry. In that race, Martin took a wrong turn and missed a flag, so she’s a misstep from being undefeated. … Clark has missed some time with a heel injury, and she also plays tennis, so she has not run a full schedule. … One other former champ will be in the field: Mennonite senior Katie Ruth, who won the crown in her freshman year in 2004, was 11th in the league this season (21-32-1.52).
