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The WPIAL cross country championships will be held Thursday at California University’s Roadman Park. Three new boys individual champions will be crowned since all three of last year's champs have graduated. The girls championships feature three defending champions. Oakland Catholic senior Hannah Schupansky is the returning champ in Class 3A. Quaker Valley junior Annie Wicker is back back in Class 2A. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart junior Haley Hamilton is the defending champ in Class 1A. The WPIAL began sponsoring girls championships in 1974. Since then, there have been 18 girls who have won at least two titles. Latrobe's Natalie Bower (2005-08) and Vincentian's Marianne Abdalah (2013-2016) are the only four-time champs in WPIAL history. The WPIAL boys championships began in 1935. Since then, there have been only 15 boys who have won at least two titles. Quaker Valley's Zach Skolnekovich (2014-16) is the only three-time champion. Below are the boys and girls lists of multiple champions. WPIAL Boys - Three-Time Champs Zach Skolnekovich, Quaker Valley (2014, 2015, 2016) WPIAL Boys - Two-Time Champs Mario Palmer, Canonsburg (1938, 1939) Dick Plummer, Mt. Lebanon (1945, 1946) Joe Thomas, Uniontown (1958, 1959) Jerry Richey, North Allegheny (1965, 1966) Randy Deemer, Riverside (1967, 1968) Gary Hoffstetter, North Allegheny (1974, 1975) Jon Burton, Beaver (1980, 1981) Fran Barry, West Mifflin South (1982, 1983) Eric Carter, Penn Hills (1982, 1983) Jay Novak, Richland (1984, 1985) Carlos Gibbs, Waynesburg (1988, 1989) Michael Sanford, Pine-Richland (1994, 1996) Scott Munroe, South Park (1998, 1999) Shawn Cavanaugh, Mt. Lebanon (1999, 2000) Dan Erny, Brentwood (2001, 2002) Scott Van Kooten, Central Catholic (2005, 2006) Domenic Perretta, Beaver Falls (2014, 2015) WPIAL Girls - Four-Time Champs Natalie Bower, Latrobe (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008) Marianne Abdalah, Vincentian (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) WPIAL Girls - Three-Time Champs Julie Hamilton, Neshannock (1974, 1975, 1976) Kristine Stoehr, Richland (1986, 1987, 1988) Jenna Bartolomeo, Ellwood City (1991, 1992, 1993) Chrissy Schneider, Hempfield (1993, 1994, 1995) Lauren Bricker, Hempfield (1999, 2000, 2001) Maxine Markfield, Quaker Valley (2000, 2001, 2002) Kacey Gibson, Neshannock (2005, 2006, 2007) Brianna Schwartz, Shaler (2012, 2013, 2014) WPIAL Girls - Two-Time Champs Leigh Kinkaid, Franklin Regional (1977, 1978) Rachael Brooks, Mars (1977, 1978) Kim McKay, Bethel Park (1982, 1983) Jackie Pupi, Beaver (1981, 1983) Elaine Laird, Sacred Heart (1986, 1987) Carole Zajac, Baldwin (1988, 1989) Jill Kern, North Hills (1990, 1991) Mary Beth Acker, Neshannock (1995, 1996) Stacey Vidt, Hampton (1997, 1998) Margo Malone, North Hills (2010, 2011) |