3000m Run Previews

The Boys

Through heavy losses to graduation and the top returnees (Ryan Pajak and Colin Whitaker) and two others deciding on the mile, last year's lone underclassman to medal is this year's lone returnee.

North Allegheny standout Jack Bertram, who was 7th in 2023, has the two fastest times in PA this season and the only ones under 8:40 in the field. Finalists Rowan Carr of Penncrest, Kevin Sherry of Coudersport and Aiden Maue of Souderton Area are next on the performance list so far, all having gone under 8:45.

Is one of the oldest boys' state meet records - Craig Miller's 8:22.65 from 2006 - at risk? It might be but would likely take a solo effort from Bertram in this 12-runner field.

@oldschooltrack Picks: The two sub-8:30 3Ks this winter by Bertram, who has been the flag bearer for the NA boys since his first XC race as a freshman, could not have been more opposite nor prepared him better for the state indoor final and a champion's watch. He won by almost 20 seconds on the non-conforming distance oval in cool conditions at Edinboro University, and then a week later, the junior stayed well off the pace in his 3K heat on the lightning-fast 200 at Boston University and then closed quickly for a US#12 8:25.23 against a mostly collegiate field. Bertram is ready for his first state championship.

The Girls

As quite possibly the most dominant girls' distance programs in state history, North Allegheny would be expected to have a runner or two in Sunday's 3,000-meter final. Well, in fact, three Tigers are scheduled to line up for the 15 laps around the banked oval.

Juniors Wren and Robin Kucler also are the highest finishing returnees from last year's final won by former Brownsville Area standout JoJo Quarzo. The Kucler sisters finished 1-2 in this year's SPIRE Showcase 3,200 run, with Wren getting the win in 10:26.26 and Robin 11 seconds back.

Teammate Eva Kynaston covered the distance in 10:55.46, more than good enough for a spot in this year's field and assure NA of a quarter of this year's entries. Sophomore state XC champ Baylee Espinosa of Lewisburg Area is second to Robin Kucler in the 3,000 rankings, with both in the high 9:50s.

With Logan St. John Kletter focusing on the mile this year, the event could be wide open, but North Allegheny has three talented runners who will work together in setting the pace in this one. With the PTFCA championship a no-scratch meet, the Kucler sisters and Espinosa will toe the line for the 3K on potentially tired legs as they also are in the mile field.

@oldschooltrack Picks: All three of the North Allegheny stars have had their time in the limelight, being the first to reach the finish and lead the Tigers to a major XC meet victory. Don't expect much open track between the Kuclers and PSU-bound Kynaston as John Neff's team will score maximum points in the team competition with a 1-2-3 finish.