Strath Haven girls claim share of Central League crown

The only thing that stood between Conestoga and the outright Central League championship in cross country was Strath Haven.

If the Panthers, who fell to the Pioneers during the dual-meet season, could beat Conestoga in the league championship race at Rose Tree Park Saturday, Strath Haven would grab a share of the league title.

The Panthers did not go home empty handed.

Isabel Cardi, Taylor Barkdoll, Abby Loiselle and Maddie Forges all finished in the top 10 to help the Panthers top the Pioneers by 28 points in the team competition to grab a share of the league title.

Cardi was third overall in 19 minutes, 27.90 seconds. Barkdoll placed fifth, followed by Loiselle in sixth place and Forbes in seventh. Maurissa Ogunde finished in 13th place to round out Strath Haven’s top five.

Dominique Shultz of Conestoga was the individual winner. She beat Harriton’s Tasha Greene by 10 seconds for the title. Jamie Green of Ridley placed fourth, while Julia Hellman of Garnet Valley was ninth.

On the boys side, James Abrahams of Haverford High School topped Lower Merion’s Matthew D’Aquila by a little over three seconds for the individual title.  

The Aces needed a 26th-place finish from Joey Litvin to break a tie with Conestoga in the team scoring to clinch the league title outright. Avery Lederer of Penncrest was third, freshman Carlos Shultz of Conestoga was fourth and Upper Darby senior Syed Shah placed fifth.

Peter Armour of Strath Haven was the only other Delco runner in the top 10. He was ninth.