While leading the girls' race at the Midwestern Athletic Conference cross country championships Tuesday Angelica Peck started to worry about getting lost.

"Actually, honestly I was," said the Blackhawk High School sophomore. "I run at Brush Creek a lot and, this is embarrassing, I couldn't remember if I come up and finish or do [the loop] again."

Fortunately, she figured out the course and cruised to the title, covering the rugged 3.1-mile course at Brush Creek Park near New Brighton in 20 minutes, 13 seconds. Hopewell's Lindsay Erath was a distant second in 20:46.

As expected, Riverside's Jon McElwain won the boy's title in 17:09 and was never challenged. Laurel junior Evan Miller was second in 17:34.

West Allegheny won the boys team title by placing six runners in the top 19. It finished with 60 points while Moon Area was second with 111 and Montour third with 113. West Allegheny junior Brad Hough was third in 17:41.

Moon and West Allegheny exchanged places in the girls' team standings. Moon had 55 points to West Allegheny's 107. Center was third with 108. Moon had four runners finish in the top 13, led by sophomore Kristen Ray who was seventh overall.

Peck pulled away from Erath and Blackhawk teammate Rebecca Pennea, who placed third in 21:14, on the first downhill stretch. Once Peck had a comfortable lead, she wasn't about to be caught.

"I had an idea I'd do well, so I figured I'd get ahead," Peck said. "I think downhills are easy ... I just let gravity do the work."

She said she was surprised no one challenged her after the first mile.

"I kind of pretended people were behind me so I would keep pushing," Peck said.

McElwain, the defending WPIAL Class AA cross country champion, didn't push the pace in the boys' race until Miller pulled up behind him after about a mile and a half.

"Once he got right there, that's when I put on a burst," McElwain said. "I just wish I would have had somebody to push me."

McElwain is sure to get pushed Oct. 16 when Riverside competes in the Tri-State Track Coaches Association championships at Coopers Lake Campground, the site of the WPIAL championships. McElwain will get a chance to go against some of the top runners in Class AAA.

"I'm really looking forward to that," he said with a smile.