The Pandas went into DELCO Championships on Saturday united for a common purpose. The team wanted to prove to the county that they are one of the better programs that continues to build for a bigger and brighter future. In order to do this the Pandas knew they must finish within the top 5 of the county, they did just that. 

The first courageous finish of the day came from senior, Jenna Rastatter. Jenna pushed the last 800 meters of the race moving from 6th to finish 3rd in the race by over 30 seconds. Her performance pushed her right into some of the top names in the county. 

Jenna wasn't the only courageous performer of the day, as it takes 5 finishers to score in cross country. One mile into the race the team noticed a big part of it was missing, as Corrina O'Lock went down with an ankle injury. This gave the pack of Pandas the motivation they needed to keep pushing to the finish line. Maggie Salter, Hailey Bierling, Sam Gliwa, and Charlotte McDermott fought valiantly when they noticed their teammate went down. This pack had courageous performances all around, notably coming from senior Sam Gliwa, who was coming off of an injury herself. Sam kept pushing her teammates along on the course to ensure the top 5 finish. 

Her leadership on the course showed, as Hailey, Maggie, and Charlotte all pushed to the finish line with Hailey and Maggie hitting their personal best times, and Charlotte hitting a season best. 

In the JV race, Mary Greiner lead the Pandas in time, finishing in a personal best time 25:46. This is more than a minute off of her prior season best. 

Times (PR = personal record):

• Jenna Rastatter 20:19 (PR) 
• Maggie Salter 23:01 (PR)
• Hailey Bierling 23:03 (PR)
• Sam Gliwa 23:33
• Charlotte McDermott 23:40
• Mary Greiner 25:46 (PR) 
• Hannah Bierling 28:22
• Shyann Bilbrough 30:53

Adding the hills of Belmont plus the high 80 degree weather that came with the Briarwood Invitational together makes it no fun for any athlete that steps on the starting line at the legendary Belmont Plateau, but on that day the Pandas had something to prove in the Challenger Race - that they are here and ready to conquer the obstacles that are in their way. 

The Pandas courageous performances were seen all around the course on Saturday. You could see athletes picking up the pace in time of struggle, and even some overcoming the heat completely to close out the final mile of the course to the best of their ability. 

Jenna Rastatter lead the way for the Pandas finishing 11th overall in a time of 21:35. She was followed by a dazed Corrina O'Lock in 32nd and Hailey Bierling in 46th. The team closed out with two juniors, Charlotte McDermott and Hannah Bierling, to give them a score of 190. 

The girls did what they do best, continued to push each other on the course and motivate each other to run better with every stride. 

In the JV race, Shyann Bilbrough put up a great effort, finishing in a time of 30:37. 

In the freshman 3K the Pandas showed that the future is bright. Liz Redak lead the way medaling in 23rd, running 13:38 (7:19 mile pace). She was quickly followed by Mary Greiner in 27th at 14:08 (7:35 mile pace), and DeeDee O'Dea in 46th at 16:04 (8:37 mile pace). 

Varsity Results:

1. Pearl River 35
2. Haddonfield 66
3. Hatboro Horsham 131
4. Cedar Cliff 150
5. Cold Spring Harbor 169
6. Msgr Bonner & Arch Prendergast 190
7. Phoenixville 200
8. Cheltenham 206
9. Episcopal 215
10. Notre Dame 249
11. Hasbrouck Heights 249
12. Cliffside Park 254
13. North Shore 311
14. Agnes Irwin 330
15. Averill Park 379