Wildcats Have Great State Cross Country Meet, Boys Finish Fourth In, Girls Finish Eighth In Class A Meet, Adisen Jackson Earns Medal In Girls Meet

Above photo courtesy of Diane Lutz – 4th Place Wildcat Boys (L-R) Alex Hummel -registered team alternate, Ryan Rinker, Drake Edmonds, Jackson Baker, Hayden Weber, Jonas Wilshire, AJ Mecusker, Josh Turner

(By Wildcats Head Coach Nicole Oakes)

The Central Clarion Wildcats wrapped up an unforgettable cross country season at the PIAA State Championships in Hershey, on Saturday, October 1st, where both the girls’ and boys’ teams proved that hard work, heart, and teamwork can take a program to new heights.

The Wildcat girls entered the championship meet with high hopes after their District 9 title, and through the first mile checkpoint, things were looking promising, as the Wildcats were sitting in second place. However as the race unfolded, a few Wildcat runners struggled to maintain their spot and the team ultimately finished eighth in the state, a remarkable accomplishment.

Leading the charge was senior Adisen Jackson, whose determination earned her a 19th-place finish, an individual state medal, and the All-State. This marks the second state medal of her career, with her first back in 2023. Adisen, making another mark in Clarion-Limestone history, follows in the footsteps of her mentor, Morgan McNaughton. Morgan also had a great race on Saturday and is continuing to make her high school coaches proud, as she finished 8th at the NEC Championships this season for Saint Francis University.

Fellow Wildcats Eliza Datko, Julianna Schwabenbauer, Reise Jackson, and Dana Coulson all recorded improved times from their September race on the same Hershey course. Also earning District 9 honors in the girls’ race was Abby Hastings of North Clarion, who added another medal to the region’s accomplishments.

While the team had hoped for a higher finish, placing in the Top Ten Class A teams in Pennsylvania remains an extraordinary feat—and one worth celebrating. The girls’ spirit and friendship were evident all weekend as they previewed the course, enjoyed a fun visit to Hershey’s Chocolate World, and were cheered on by a large group of family, friends, and supporters who made the trip.

On the boys’ side, the Wildcat Varsity team delivered a thrilling surprise, finishing fourth overall in Class A, solidifying their status among the top programs in the state.

The standout performance of the day came from freshman Jackson Baker, who continues to impress with his rapid improvement. Starting in 75th place at the two-mile mark, Baker charged through the final stretch to finish 47th overall, overtaking typical team front-runner Hayden Weber in the final strides. His fearless performance on one of the toughest courses hints at a bright future ahead for this wildcat.

Veterans Jonas Wilshire, Ryan Rinker, and AJ McCusker each turned in strong efforts as well, all showing time improvements from their earlier season race on the same course during September’s Foundation meet.

The trip to Hershey was memorable from start to finish. Thanks to the generosity of parents, the team traveled in style on a coach bus, making the three-hour journey a celebration of a season’s worth of dedication. The Wildcats’ returned home with firetruck escorts from the Corsica, Strattanville, and Limestone Fire Departments,in recognition of the runners’ achievements.

Having both of our teams performing with the best and finishing in the top spots state-wide is something that we are exceptionally proud of. The credit really goes to the kids that are putting in the hard work, dedicating summer hours and making sacrifices throughout the fall needed to excel in this sport. Last week, the day before districts was the day that kids from C-L and Clarion have off to enjoy Autumn Leaf Festival, a highlight in our community. We talked to the kids about the choices they made on Friday impacting what they were able to do on Saturday. The same was true this past weekend, of course having 20 teenagers in a motel together without their parents sounds like a blast, but they really locked in and focused on Saturday’s goal.

Congratulations, Wildcats, on an incredible season and a strong finish at States!

(Way to go, Wildcats!!!! Thanks to Coach Oakes for this fine article and to Dianne Lutz and Chuck McNaughton for their photos!!)