Can Manheim Township win their 3rd District 3 team title in a row? It certainly looks that way as we head into the 2024 season. They have 3 returning District medalists from 2023 in Elena Barrall (jr), Lexie Kauffman (jr), and Kaila Atteberry (jr). Dallastown looks like the only team that can challenge the Blue Streaks. Neila Granger (so) was one of the state’s top freshmen last year and will look to build upon that success in year two. She was the 2023 YAIAA champion and just missed a state medal last fall finishing 31st. The Wildcats will welcome the best freshman in the state this year in Leah Navarro. Granger and Navarro provide Dallastown with a dangerous low-stick duo out front.

While Manheim Township and Dallastown seem the obvious top 2 in District 3 this season, an engaging battle should ensue for the remaining 3 team qualifying spots to states. On paper, it looks as if at least 5 and maybe as many as 9 teams could finish in state qualifying position. Chambersburg, Mechanicsburg, and Warwick are our pre-season picks to round out the PIAA State qualifiers.

The top 4 individual finishers from the 2023 District 3 Championship have graduated. Ella Wolfe is now competing in triathlon for the University of Arizona, Claire Paci is running for UConn, Kaitlyn Highduch is running for Lehigh, and Gabby Keith is competing for the University of Pittsburgh. The race for the 2024 District 3 individual champion should be a competitive affair. Here are 8 girls we feel could take home the title in 2024 (in alphabetical order):

• Elena Barrall (sr, Manheim Township)
• Ana Bondy (jr, Carlisle)
• Lydia Drago (sr, Governor Mifflin)
• Ruby Garner-Valle (so, JP McCaskey)
• Neila Granger (so, Dallastown)
• Sophia Kim (jr, Hershey)
• Leah Navarro (fr, Dallastown)
• Ella Reidinger (jr, Wilson)

If you simply average times between Districts and States then Bondy and Drago are the top performers with Granger and Barrall coming in next. Bondy owns the group’s top 1600m time with a 4:59, followed closely by Barrall with a 5:00. Garner-Valle owns the best 3200m PR of the group with a 10:46. Bondy has run 10:52 for 3200m. With all things considered, our pre-season pick to win the District 3 title is Carlisle’s Ana Bondy.

Here is a team by team look at all participating schools in District 3 Class AAA. Individually we highlight those runners who will be appearing in the top 80 of our initial individual rankings. Those rankings will be released soon for our Premium Subscribers!