Ferner edges McLain for YAIAA girls title

As the two leaders of the YAIAA cross country championships girls race rounded the two-mile mark Tuesday, spectators from all directions yelled, "go Maddie!"

But it wasn't clear exactly who they were encouraging.

Kennard-Dale senior Maddie Ferner and Eastern York sophomore Maddie McLain, who have become good friends in two years competing against each other, jogged side-by-side ahead of the rest of the rest of the pack.

"I like to think everyone saying, 'Go Maddie,' is saying it for me," said Ferner, the Maddie who broke the deadlock in the final 800 meters to win the race at Gettysburg. "It feels like more people are cheering me on."

But if you ask McLain, they're all cheering for her.

"I use everyone for my motivation, honestly," she said. "Once in a while you'll hear your last name or Kennard-Dale or Eastern, but I use it all for motivation."

By the end of the race, some of the more creative Kennard-Dale spectators changed their cheers to "Go Mookie" — Ferner's childhood nickname — or "Go Bertha" — her middle name — as Ferner crossed the finish line in 19 minutes, 7.01 seconds, more than eight seconds ahead of McLain.

At a hill near the three-mile marker, Ferner made her move and pulled away. She shortened her strides on the way down the hill and extended her lead.

"I started working hard up the hill because I know that, mentally, everyone hates hills," Ferner said. "I knew that, mentally, if I worked hard up it and I crest the hill, I could open up a gap. I did and once I got down the hill I opened it up even more."

Ferner's victory adds another chapter to the competition between the Maddies, a competition that's led to a friendship between the Division III rivals. They exchange text messages all season to see how each other performed at dual meets and to talk about running, and they plan to get together to train alongside each other in the offseason. After Tuesday's race, they hugged and congratulated each other on their finishes.

"She's just such an awesome, nice girl, and her and I just clicked and became friends," Ferner said. "There's competition there, but she motivates me, I motivate her — it's a great relationship."

YAIAA boys' cross country: Home-course advantage boosts Gettysburg's Dan Filler, Will Greene

Now that the YAIAA season is in the books, both Maddies turn their attention toward the District 3 meet Oct. 31. They'll push each other again, as they'll both be competing in the Class AA race.

McLain sets her sights on finishing in the top three — unless, of course, she can find a way to beat her friend and take first.

"I know from today what I have to work on: those last 800 meters," McLain said. "I like running with her because she definitely pushes me. Even though we're not in AAA, we're able to get times as fast as those AAA girls."

Girls' results

1. Maddie Ferner, KD, 19:07.01. 2. Maddie McLain, EY, 19:15.43. 3. Caitlin Salomon, KD, 19:33.43. 4. Bethany Weaver, WY, 19:59.49. 5. Madison Nalls, EY, 20:13.00. 6. Olivia Gettle, YS, 20:14.97. 7. Olivia McLain, EY, 20:26.18. 8. Leanne Sneeringer, DC, 20:28.44. 9. Micaela Bradley, Ne, 20:30.80. 10. Lydia Fimmano, Dt, 20:32.31. 11. Bridget Palm, CY, 20:36.41. 12. Tristan Schluderberg, RL, 20:37.13. 13. Rachel Banchiere, Sus, 20:45.81. 14. Cecillia Lantz, YS, 20:48.33. 15. Kate Mowrey, DC, 20:48.64. 16. Haley Pfefferkorn, CY, 20:54.07. 17. Bella Wise, Dt, 20:54.68. 18. Alyssa Alberghini, DC, 20:56.02. 19. Sarah Groetz, Dt, 21:01.98. 20. Sarah Forry, SW, 21:08.50.

21. Danielle DuBois, Dt, 21:11.96. 22. Madison Wisensale, 21:16.95. 23. Haley Brown, Dt, 21:19.84. 24. Zezette Pflaum, YS, 21:22.59. 25. Lindsey Flemmens, YS, 21:22.92. 26. Lakyn Brenneman, WY, 21:27.25. 27. Paige Hartman, CY, 21:30.82. 28. Aileen Strong, YS, 21:40.26. 29. Sarah Kistner, Do, 21:49.20. 30. Bryn Trout, RL, 21:58.68. 31. Brooke Ruth, YS, 22:08.12. 32. Corrine Maloney, WY, 22:12.65. 33. Natasha Wetzel, SW, 22:13.31. 34. Raleigh Bateman, NO, 22:13.60. 35. Macy Owens, RL, 22:16.59. 36. Megan Yingling, Get, 22:16.90. 37. Kyleigh Smeltzer, Ne, 22:21.27. 38. Lindsey Lytle, F, 22:22.82. 39. Amanda Loeffelholz, CY, 22:23.52. 40. Alyssa Lawton, Do, 22:24.73.

41. Tori Richter, NO, 22:29.71. 42. Kate Baker, RL, 22:31.17. 43. Jackie Ball, CY, 22:31.71. 44. Bryn Walsh, YS, 22:33.36. 45. Lynne Mooradian, SW, 22:33.74. 46. Lauren Hall, SW, 22:35.32. 47. Taylor Lescalleet, DC, 22:36.58. 48. Emily Reynolds, Do, 22:38.04. 49. Leah Taylor, RL, 22:44.21. 50. Crystal Mullins, KD, 22:45.77. 51. Courtney Rodgers, Sus, 22:46.71. 52. Rebecca Fuhrman, WY, 22:54.16. 53. Sharlie Taylor, RL, 22:57.86. 54. Madison Schmaltz, Do, 23:02.75. 55. Rose Rush, Ne, 23:05.64. 56. Megan Stager, Dt, 23:11.60. 57. Kate Gatchell, RL, 23:15.89. 58. Julia Atkins, YCT, 23:19.59. 59. Elizabeth Balas, Get, 23:24.35. 60. Julia Geesaman, Get, 23:38.07.

61. Abbey Sweeney, DC, 23:41.04. 62. Katelyn MacDougall, YC, 23:45.54. 63. Samantha Jenks, YCT, 23:47.15. 64. Samantha Gantzler, WY, 23:52.85. 65. Danielle Naill, Lt, 23:54.00. 66. Rachel Kordaz, YC, 23:54.59. 67. Breanna Kaiser, Sus, 23:58.26. 68. Megan Thomas, KD, 23:58.96. 69. Megan Lankford, WY, 24:03.07. 70. Carlin Mayer, YC, 24:05.29. 71. Audrey Alpaugh, NO, 24:06.86. 72. Brooke Buzynski, CY, 24:08.29. 73. Kayleigh Pokrivka, YC, 24:09.00. 74. Maddy Ross, NO, 24:09.96. 75. Haley Sweitzer, Do, 24:11.93. 76. Danielle Simpson, Sus, 24:13.27. 77. Juliana Stokovich, Lt, 24:28.78. 79. Marissa Coley, Do, 24:32.70. 79. Makalyn Shupp, BeS, 24:37.46. 80. Makayla Grothe, YCT, 24:38.00.

81. Sophia Barnes, Do, 24:44.69. 82. Carissa McCourry, SW, 24:48.74. 83. Kathryn Rader, YC, 24:49.01. 84. Gabby Martuszewski, Sus, 24:50.28. 85. Della Doyle, YC, 25:03.66. 86. Ashley Heldibridle, Lt, 25:04.15. 87. Mia Hensil, BeS, 25:10.02. 88. Maggie Wells, DC, 25:12.01. 89. Emma Freeman, Get, 25:25.70. 90. Melissa Cole, Get, 25:26.05. 91. Julianna Wagner, Sus, 25:27.50. 92. Megan Myers, Dt, 25:28.52. 93. Hallie Fromm, KD, 25:29.05. 94. Olivia Speakman, DC, 25:31.21. 95. Riley Becker, NO, 25:34.40. 96. Allison Rodgers, Sus, 25:37.91. 97. Eva Knowles, BeS, 25:41.18. 98. Grace McCamant, SW, 25:42.12. 99. Josie Jermyn, WY, 25:46.18. 100. Jasmine Ball, YCT, 25:52.86.

101. Lauren Corbitt, YC, 26:04.49. 102. Grace Cuff, BeS, 26:05.74. 103. Lydia Blinn, F, 26:19.84. 104. Liz Graham, KD, 26:24.36. 105. Ally Wagner, F, 26:25.86. 106. Beki Finafrock, F, 26:30.29. 107. Gracen Garman, Ne, 26:58.16. 108. Rosa Messersmith, NO, 27:01.79. 109. Teaghan Steele, BeS, 27:26.62. 110. Baylee Robey, Big, 27:27.86. 111. Marissa Landaverde, SG, 27:28.83. 112. Elena Yingling, Lt, 27:39.84. 113. Lusiana Aguero, YCT, 27:51.40. 114. Destiny Clouser, Big, 27:55.50. 115. Jessica Ollis, KD, 28:17.80. 116. Madison Miller, EY, 29:03.07. 117. Kiley Hockensmith, NO, 29:21.67. 118. Andrea Smiley, SG, 29:39.54. 119. Sarah Gardner, SG, 30:22.46. 120. Nicholle Marshall, Big, 31:11.55. 121. Kyris Boyle, F, 32:52.77. 122. Savannah Racioppa, BeS, 33:24.19. 123. Erin Habecker, EY, 34:01.95.