The Preseason MileSplit50 Top 25 Girls Team Rankings

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No. 17: North Allegheny (PA)

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Analysis: With a total of six returners back, including the team's No. 1, Wren Kucler, the Tigers should look to repeat as WPIAL and PIAA Class AAA champions. Quite simply, North Allegheny will be tough to beat. In consecutive meets to end the 2021 year, the squad put down point totals of 49 and 62, earning dominant wins in their season-ending conquests against state competition. 

But will North Allegheny seek out national-level competition in 2022? That would be an opportunity worth taking advantage of. In the Northeast -- at least on paper -- the Tigers are the third-best team returning, just behind powerhouses Saratoga Springs (NY) and Fayetteville-Manlius (NY). Based on last year's PRs, the team enters with a team average of 18:48 and has three girls who have produced times under 18:40.

Biggest Question: Will Wren Kucler take the next step in her development and make the leap into stardom? 

There's no doubt Kucler has talent. The high school sophomore was a superb freshman, clocking times of 18:10, 18:51 and 18:40 over six races at the 5K distance. In the spring, she followed with times of 5:00 in the 1,600m and 10:52 in the 3,200m. The next threshold she should aim for is that 18 minute 5K barrier. 

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