Girls’ cross country team finishes strong

December 15, 2016

The Altoona XC team ran in the Blair County Day meet on Oct. 24. The meet took place on Altoona’s home course at Logan Elementary School. Cross Country is available to eighth and ninth graders. Practices begin in early June and the season ends in November. The Altoona team is split into a boys’ high school team, a girls’ high school team, a middle school team and a varsity team made up of selected runners. The girls team placed in the top 3 to end their last home meet of the 2016 season.

Huddle up! The girls’ cross country team gives a pep talk before their race. The girls’ coaches are Tabitha Quinn, Carly Meholic, Charles Jun and Deborah Kissel. Photo by Paige Glasgow

Eighth graders Raina Plukto, Karenna Kauffman and Morgan Baker cheer on their teammates as they run past. Plukto, Kauffman and Baker ran in the middle school race representing Altoona. Photo by Paige Glasgow

Ninth grader Emily Rentz pulls ahead of an opponent from Bishop Guilfoyle High School during the middle of the race. This was Altoona’s last home meet of the 2016 season. Photo by Paige Glasgow

Finish strong! Freshman Gianna Marasco sprints towards the finish line. This was Marasco’s first year on the team and she was selected as a varsity runner. Photo by Paige Glasgow

Autumn scenery outlines the finish line at Logan Elementary School. The course was a 5k race, which was 3.1 miles long. Photo by Paige Glasgow