Rams’ Pajak runs to third WPIAL cross country title
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
A determined Ryan Pajak races along the straightaway portion of the course during the WPIAL Class 2A cross country championships. The Ringgold senior won the race in a record time of 15:04.
Ringgold’s Ryan Pajak is out in front of Julian Kletz from Montour during the WPIAL Class 2A cross country race last Thursday at White Oak. Pajak won his first state title Saturday in a time of 15:21.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Ryan Pajak of Ringgold celebrates as he approaches the finish line for the third consecutive year in first place in the WPIAL Class 2A cross country championships. The senior and Notre Dame recruit not only won his third district title, he did so by setting a new course record with a time of 15:04 at White Oak Park.
Tessa Rodriquez of Belle Vernon pulls out the stops during the WPIAL Class 2A cross country championships. The senior finished 10th overall in the race with a 19:43.90 time.
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Sydney Shock of Peters Township crosses the finish line in ninth place and qualified for the PIAA state championships. The senior submitted an 18:55.5 time on the course at White Oak Park during the WPIAL Class AAA championships.
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.
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.
WHITE OAK – Ryan Pajak made it three district titles in a row Thursday afternoon after the Ringgold senior left the Class 2A field in his wake at the WPIAL Cross Country Championships held at White Oak Park.
Pajak’s winning time was 15:04, easily outdistancing Hampton’s Dale Hall, who crossed the finish line in 15:37.10.
Pajak and Hall pretty much ran stride-for-stride through the first two splits. However, by the time the pair reached the two-mile split Pajak had built a 22-second cushion. The advantage grew to 30 seconds at the 2½-mile split.
“It feels great,” Pajak said of winning his third WPIAL gold medal. “I definitely wanted to win it my freshman year. It was a nail-biter at the finish line, but I’m happy to get it (this year).”
White Oak Park also hosted the WPIAL meet during the Covid year (2020) when Pajak was a freshman. Knoch’s Mike Formica won the sprint to the finish line with a winning time 16:15, two seconds in front of Pajak.
Pajak’s first two WPIAL titles were contested at Cal U’s Roadman Park.
“(White Oak Park is) definitely faster. One thing that’s weird it’s all downhill the first mile, so trying to get back up the hills and regroup you legs is definitely a little bit weird,” said Pajak, adding, “It’s different, but it suits me.”
Pajak’s teammate, Lily Brenneman, advanced to her first PIAA meet after the freshman placed 23rd in the Class 2A race in 20:55.50.
“It was not my best race, but I really tried to push the second half,” said Brenneman, adding, “I really wanted to go to states, really bad.”
Belle Vernon’s Tessa Rodriguez placed 10th in Class 2A with a time of 19:43.90 for a spot in the state meet.
California freshman Carter Kent earned one of the Class A qualifying berths after he placed 32nd with a time of 17:50.90.
“We knew I had to PR to make it to states. I did it by 20 seconds,” said Kent. “I never thought I’d run a sub-18 (minutes).”
McGuffey’s Elihu Dale (18, 17:25.60), Brady Hagerman (33, 17:52.90), and Ben Piatt (34, 17:55.80) all earned medals and qualified for the Class A state meet, as did Washington’s Wesley Riddle (35, 17:58.30).
South Fayette’s Alaa-Eddine Guetari finished fifth in Class AAA with a time of 16:16.70. Fort Cherry teammates Emily Frankovich (11, 20:46.50) and Lucia DeMicco (25, 21:36.40) qualified for the Class A state final.
Peters Township’s Sydney Shock (9, 18:55.50), Grace Senneway (16, 19:20.70) and Meagan McKenna (18, 19:30.80) made the Class 3A medals stand and advanced to the PIAA meet.
Mohawk’s Jaxon Schoedel (Class A) and Butler’s Drew Griffith (15:05.20) won individual boys titles. Riverside’s Lexi Riverside (A), North Catholic’s Madeline Meeuf (AA), and Mt. Lebanon’s Logan St. John Kletter (AAA) were the girls individual gold medalists.