Rebekah Hall was thrust further into the WPIAL spotlight after last week’s title-winning performance at the Tri-State Coaches Association meet at White Oak Park.

The Hampton junior came back to White Oak on Thursday with a goal to add a WPIAL title to her 2025 cross country resume.

Mission accomplished.

Hall ran the 3.1 mile course in 19:10.60, almost 12 seconds ahead of the rest of the field, to claim her first WPIAL crown.

“It was really nice to know I had the strength at the end and that I could kick when I needed to after the hill,” Hall said.

“It was a little nerve wracking this week coming in as one of the favorites and expected to be right there at the top. It did feel pretty awesome coming down to the finish, but I knew I had to keep pushing and keep going. It wasn’t done until I crossed the finish line.”

Last year, Hall battled anemia and an ankle injury at the end of the season. But she pushed through and placed 22nd (20:24.80) at WPIALs.

The finished helped her team capture gold in 2024, and she ran at states.

Hall returns to Hershey on Nov. 1 with junior teammates Claire McKinney (18th, 20:15.60) and Karina Bonnar (23rd, 20:30.20).

“I definitely want to medal next week,” Hall said. “I know there are some hills to work on.”

North Catholic, led by individual runner-up Madeline Meeuf (19:22.20), ran away with the Class 2A girls team title as all five scoring runners placed 21st or better. Their 45 points were 99 better than runner-up Quaker Valley and 117 better than third-place Indiana. All three teams will compete at states.

Class 2A boys

Jonah Montagnese turned on the jets and left the rest of the Class 2A boys field in his wake.

The Quaker Valley junior won his race Thursday by almost 26 seconds, finishing in a time of 15:08.70.

Montagnese rose to first after a third-place finished last year. He cut nearly 38 seconds from his 2024 WPIAL time.

“This feels pretty good,” said Montagnese, who took ninth (15:03) at the prestigious Virginia Showcase meet last Saturday as part of his preparation for WPIALs.

“I am really happy with my (WPIAL) performance. I really pushed myself out there. It was a time that I was really proud of. I was finally able to show where my training is and that I am at a really elite level right now.”

Montagnese’s golden performance helped Quaker Valley claim its second straight WPIAL team title.

The top four teams from Class 2A boys will run at states. Joining the Quakers are North Catholic, Ellwood City, and Hampton.

“The group of guys we have, we’re looking forward to the chance to go after a state title,” Montagnese said.

“With a good week of training and preparation, I know we can put ourselves in that position. It will be fun to see what we can do.”

Carter French, a junior from Knoch and the Tri-State Coaches Association champion at White Oak last week, took second in 15:36.60.