For the second consecutive year the Quaker Valley boys' cross country team found itself on the victory stand at the PIAA championships. But for the second year in a row the Quakers were the runners-up.

After losing the Class AA race for the team title by two points last year, Quaker Valley was edged in the team standings yesterday in Hershey, 76-99, by York Suburban.

The last WPIAL team to win a boys' Class AA title at the PIAA championships was Neshannock in 1976. After coming so close last year and easily winning the WPIAL title nine days ago the Quakers had hoped to end the drought.

In the boys' Class AAA race at the 3.1-mile Parkview course, North Allegheny came on strong to finish second behind West Chester Henderson, 119-28. Baldwin placed fifth with 154 points and North Hills was eighth.

Individually, the WPIAL had a strong showing in the boys' Class AAA race.

Mt. Lebanon High School senior Rad Gunzenhauser was second with a time of 15 minutes, 49 seconds. North Penn's Brad Miles won the race in 15:47.

North Allegheny's Ryan Gil, the WPIAL champion, finished third in 16:03 with North Hills junior Joe Kush fifth in 16:10. North Hills' Juris Silenieks was 13th in 16:27.

North Hills had a strong showing in the girls' Class AAA race as well. Indians sophomore Margo Malone was fifth in 19:01 and her sister, Shannon, a freshman, was 11th.

Hampton senior Elainia Balouris finished sixth in 19:04 and Amber Valimont of Hempfield was seventh in 19:08. Blackhawk's Angelica Peck was 12th.

WPIAL champion Jenna Gigliotti had an off day and placed 67th overall. Sara Sargent of Pennsbury won the Class AAA title in 18:35.

In the girls' Class AAA team standings, Emmaus won the PIAA title for the second consecutive year. North Allegheny, which did not have a senior among its seven runners, was fourth with 189 and WPIAL champion Norwin was sixth with 227 points.

Laurel High School senior Evan Miller, who won the WPIAL title, was the first area finisher in the boys' Class AA race. He placed seventh in 16:57. Kutztown's Stephen Welsh was the winner in 16:37. Quaker Valley's Omar Hyjek, John Yankello and Nat Fox placed 18, 19 and 20, respectively. Hyjek finished in 17:12.

In girls' Class AA, Shady Side Academy's Katrina Jueng was eighth in 19:41 and teammate Tory Bruch was 20th. Northwestern Lehigh's Lindsay Kerr was the winner in 18:56. Northgate's Bridget Walters was 15th.

Sara Miller, a sophomore at Quaker Valley who won the WPIAL title last week, finished 37th. Shady Side Academy was 13th in the team standings.

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