Clare Valenza '23 and Amy Weybrecht '24 led the way as a number of Gilmour Academy boys and girls cross country runners were honored by various organizations after the recently concluded season.

Valenza and Weybrecht were both named All-Ohio by virtue of their finishes at the OHSAA State Championship.

Weybrecht placed 16^th at the State meet (19:00.2), with Valenza following right behind in 17^th place (19:00.3), in a field of 187 of the best runners in Ohio.

Weybrecht and Valenza both finished among the top 10 at the Boardman Regional Championship and placed second and third, respectively, at the Madison District Championship. Both members of the duo were named All-News Herald First Team as well.

Mary Lombardo '22 claimed Second Team All-Star honors from the News Herald while Mia Polisena '22 and Kaitlin Rulison '23 earned Honor Roll mention from the organization.

Lombardo finished in fifth place at the District meet and 15^th in the Regional Championship and was consistently the Lancers' third-fastest runner. She had the 15^th fastest time during the regular season among all girls in the News Herald coverage area.

Polisena and Rulison both finished among the top 15 at the District Championship and within the top 40 at the Regional Championship, in addition to competing at the State Championship. They both had times among the top 50 fastest during the regular season within the News Herald coverage area.

The final girls cross country honor from the News Herald went to head coach Matt Lindley, as he was selected as the organization's Coach of the Year.

Lindley led the Lancer girls to a fourth-place finish at the State Championship, the best by a GA team at the event since 2016. With both Valenza and Weybrecht earning All-Ohio honors, it marked the first time in program history that two Lancers earned that distinction in a single season. Lindley also helped Valenza achieve the honor in her first season competing in the sport.

The Gilmour girls won their 11^th consecutive District title, their third Regional title in the past four years and advanced to the State Championship for the 12^th year running.

Additionally, for the first time in program history, all seven runners from Gilmour's State-competing team were named Academic All-Ohio. Honorees must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50 on an unweighted scale and compete at the OHSAA State Championship. The following Lancers earned the honor: Anna Grossner '24, Lombardo, Polisena, Gia Rosko '24, Rulison, Valenza and Weybrecht.

A trio of members of the Gilmour boys cross country team were also recognized by the News Herald after this past season.

Michael Piccirrillo '24 claimed Second Team honors, Scott Vergilii '23 claimed a spot on the Third Team and Tim Papczun '24 earned Honorable Mention status.

That trio of Lancer boys were GA's top three finishers at both of their postseason events. Piccirrillo, Papczun and Vergilii placed 11^th, 13^th and 14^th, respectively, at the Madison District Championship.

Piccirrillo (38^th) and Vergilii (45^th) both posted top-50 showings at the Regional meet with Papczun finishing just behind them (55^th).

All three Lancer boys that were recognized by the News Herald are set to return next season.