CR South, CB West, CR North win team crowns at SOL championships

Since her freshman year, junior Lilly Norcross has worn the same hair tie to each of her cross country races. It has a Fourth of July theme with Central Bucks East’s red, white and blue colors.

It’s part of her ritual as well as a good luck charm. Over the past three years, it has bestowed its share of good fortune, most recently a fourth-place finish at the Suburban One League (SOL) cross country championships at Lehigh University.

“It is something that I always have with me when I race,” said Norcross. “I started running in a YMCA program in third grade, but I really didn’t enjoy it. But once I realized what I could do, I began to enjoy it and work to get better.”

Norcross clocked the course in 19:36.90 in the girls Colonial Division, and she was among a collection of runners who performed well in the SOL meet. Teammate Tyler Tomlinson was East’s top boys finisher in sixth place with a time of 16:03.80.

Central Bucks South’s Riley Rooney gained a first-place medal in the Colonial girls in 18:06.70, and Council Rock North’s Brady Ott also crossed the finish line ahead of the competition in the Patriot boys division in 15:35. Ott was followed tightly behind by teammates Andrew Young (15:54.40) and Matt Gosling (15:54.90) to lead the Indians to the team tile.

As for Norcross, her running career was influenced by her parents, Jeff – a CB East grad – and her mother, Krissy, who were both high school runners. Initially, she didn’t place much emphasis on it.

“It’s not that I didn’t like running,” she recalled. I did like to run along with someone. I started to cramp up when I was younger, and there weren’t a lot of good experiences. My parents did help me through it.”

However, her fortune changed when she entered a novice race her freshman year.

“I entered that race, and I won it,” she beamed. “It was my third race of the year. From there, I knew I had to do my best every race. That was a big confidence booster.

In the past two years, Norcross has lowered her times, as her previous PR was 20.31 set last season.

She took the initiative this past summer recording as many miles as she could. Her long day was Saturday, which was usually in the range of 6 or more miles, and ran 3 to 5 miles the majority of days the rest of the week.

CB East head coach Keith Sinn has relished the moments watching her develop.

“Lilly had a great time in her race,” said Sinn. “She has been improving all season long. I liked her aggressive approach at the start of the race. She will need that approach at the district championships to have a shot at advancing to the PIAA championships.”

Norcross is happy to return to Lehigh for districts this weekend, favoring the Bethlehem-based course. She is optimistic that it can be a springboard to the next level.

“I really like the course, and it is good for me,” she stressed. “I know the course and what I need to work on. I really would like to get to states.”

Other locals who excelled were Central Bucks West’s Abigail Kolbe, who was third in the Colonial girls (19:33.70), and teammates Ella Lentini (seventh, 19:47.40) and Rachel Folkins (ninth, 19:55.50), who helped the Bucks defend the team title.

Bucks head coach Kiki Bell credited Ariana Beiu’s finish (15th, 20:36.40) as the key.

“I am very proud of their efforts and improvements,” said Bell. “Several girls ran their personal bests. It was a very tight race, and North Penn and Pennridge were right there.”

“Ariana was our pivotal finisher and clinched the championship.”

Pennridge’s Ashley Landis was second in the Colonial girls (19:12.30), and Kaegan Smith (eighth, 19:52.60), and Taylor Burkett (10th, 19:57.20) were also in the top 10 for the Rams.

Council Rock South’s Maeve Boyes was fourth (20:06:10) in the Patriot girls, and she was followed by Lily Bieak (fifth, 20:17.30), Julia Benincasa (sixth, 20:30.40), Nadia Castillo (eighth, 21.20.30), and Sara Greatti (10th, 21:29.30), as the quintet led the Golden Hawks to the team crown.

In the girls Liberty Division, Quakertown had two runners finish in the top 10 – Sophie Abato (20.25.90) in fourth and Mona Nouri (21.34.90) in 10th place.

New Hope-Solebury’s Ruby Keddie (20.24.50) finished third for the Lions in the girls Freedom Division.

On the boys side, Central Bucks South’s Evan Morrow finished eighth in the Colonial (16.33.80) and Thomas McGann of Pennridge rounded out the top 10 in a time of 16.36.80.

In the Patriot Division, Council Rock South’s Jude Olsen finished fourth in a time of 15.58.10 and teammates Mason Kaminski (16.17.70) and Cain Lawler (16.17.90) finished ninth and 10th, respectively. Council Rock North’s Lucas Poliseno claimed sixth (16:02.60) and teammate Joe Crowne finished eighth (16:16.90).

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