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Preseason power rankings: YAIAA girls' cross country


Three of the six GameTimePA YAIAA girls' cross country all-stars return this season, and all three run for Eastern York.

So, is this the year the Golden Knights knock off York Suburban as the top team in YAIAA Division II? No one has beaten the Trojans since Eastern did it nine years ago. The two teams face off Sept. 20 at Northeastern in a meet that also includes Central York and Delone Catholic.

Preseason rankings

1. York Suburban: Any ranking has to start with the Trojans, who haven’t lost a dual meet since 2007. Zette Pflaum will lead the team in its quest for yet another YAIAA Division II title.

2. Eastern York: The Golden Knights, if healthy, will pose a serious threat to York Suburban’s dynasty with three state qualifiers returning. If the back-end of the lineup can catch up to the top-three, this team will be tough to beat.

3. Dallastown: The Wildcats return their top-five runners — led by Lydia Fimmano — from last year’s team that won a share of the YAIAA Division I title. They went 16-4 in dual meets last year.

4. Central York: The Panthers went 17-3 in dual meets last year, placing third in YAIAA Division I. They return much of that team, including Bridget Palm, who placed 11th at the YAIAA Championships.

5. Red Lion: The Lions return all but the top-two runners from last year’s team that won a share of the YAIAA Division I title. They went 17-3 in dual meets last year.

Runners to watch

Lydia Fimmano, Dallastown, jr.: Fimmano returns as the Wildcats’ No. 1 runner after helping them earn a share of the YAIAA Division I title last year. She placed 10th at the YAIAA championships last year and 41st at the Distrct 3 Class 3A Championships.

Maddie McLain, Eastern York, jr.: A returning GameTimePA YAIAA all-star, the older McLain placed second at the YAIAA championships last year, placed third in District 3 Class 2A and earned a 16th-place state medal.

Olivia McLain, Eastern York, so.: A returning GameTimePA YAIAA all-star, the younger McLain placed seventh at the YAIAA championships last year, placed 10th in District 3 Class 2A and qualified for the state championships.

Madison Nalls, Eastern York, jr.: A returning GameTimePA YAIAA all-star, Nalls placed fifth at the YAIAA championships last year, placed 18th in District 3 Class 2A and qualified for the state championships.

Leanne Sneeringer, Delone Catholic, jr.: Sneeringer stepped into the No. 1 position for the Squirettes due to an injury last season, and she’ll start the year in that position this year. She placed eighth at the YAIAA championships last year, placed third in District 3 Class A and qualified for the state championships.