All eyes are on the Lady Kingsmen Cross Country team after an impressive performance at the prestigious Marion Invite. The Penn girls took third place on Saturday, Sept. 3 in the elite meet at Indiana Wesleyan University. The Kingsmen only lost to two other top ranking schools in the state.
Mary Eubank placed 4th with an impressive 18:59.30 time. Ellie Stabnik took 11th place with a steady 19.32.30 time. Ari Balinnang and Aubrey Morgan finished the race together placing 27th and 28th. They finished 1 second apart from each other. Belle Rebolloso finished 32nd with a steady 20:24.30 time.
The Marion Invite attracts some of the top cross-country programs in the state. This year 7 of the top 25 Indiana teams participated, as well as the number 3 team in Ohio.
Girls Cross Country Head Coach Michael Clements only took the top 12 varsity runners to the Marion Invite. The Lady Kingsmen stayed overnight to help prepare against top-level competition. Clements says he treats this meet as an opportunity to prepare for the state meet in October.
“As a team, we talk a lot about not making one race any bigger than what it is. If we can be flexible, adaptable, and keep racing in perspective, it will let us minimize the stress of competition even when we’re going up against the best in the State,” Clements said.
Sophomore Aubrey Morgan ran in the varsity race, scoring for the Kingsmen. This is her first year running at the Marion Invite, after she was unable to attend last year. She says she is excited to be a part of the meet.
“The team has prepared pretty well for this meet by doing harder workouts at the beginning of each week and also by putting in a lot of work in the two previous meets this season,” Morgan said.
The Lady Kingsmen look to continue a successful season on Sept. 10 at Ox Bow Park in the Minutemen Invite. Overall Penn Girls XC is currently ranked 16th in the state with the state-run coming up in October.
