Norwin already proved itself to the state by winning its first PIAA Class 3A cross country championship.
The mighty girls team also made a mark nationally.
Norwin competed at the Nike Cross Country Northeast Regional on Nov. 22 at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, N.Y.
The top two high school-affiliated teams from each of four regions — Northeast, Northwest, Midwest and Heartland — advanced to the national meet Dec. 7 in Portland, Ore. There, 22 teams will compete for a national title.
Norwin finished seventh overall.
Annie Czajkowski was the top Knights finisher with a time of 19 minutes, 21.2 seconds.
The Norwin boys, who are primed for a big season next year, also competed and came in 13th. WPIAL champion Ben McBride was 25th (16:28.1).
Norwin was listed as “Irwin XC.” It went against 43 other teams in the girls championship race. Norwin’s girls lineup also consisted of Ciera Berthelsen, Anna Dansak, Emily Dansak, Addison Farrah, Kaelyn Lazr and Jillian Ryba.
Only two girls teams from Pennsylvania have ever reached nationals — Unionville and North Allegheny — with both advancing twice.
Norwin dominated most of its meets this season. The Knights won the state title by 54 points over Downingtown West in Hershey.
Czajkowski led Norwin with an 11th-place finish in 19 minutes, 12 seconds.
Norwin won its first WPIAL team title since 2009 by a 36-point margin over Fox Chapel. Emily Dansak was third, Czajkowski fifth and Ryba sixth.
Norwin’s boys runners at nationals were Alexander Barrett, Ransom Gaydos, Atticus Knight, William Little, Declan O’Donnell and Owen Rankin.
Postseason awards
Norwin coach Brian Fleckenstein was named the Pennsylvania Track and Field Association Coach of the Year, while Czajkowski was selected to the PTFCA all-state second team.