CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — After finishing second to Elk County Catholic, who finished second in the PIAA, in District 9 Class 1A last season, the Clarion Cross Country team is expected to have another strong year according to the website pa.milesplot.com, one of the leading authorities on the sport in the Commonwealth.

(Clarion’s 2017 Boys’ Cross Country team after finishing second at the D9 meet. Photo by Christie Datko)

The site said that Clarion and Smethport, who Clarion, which finished 12th at the PIAA meet, edged for second last season, will “once again be strong and could be battling it out for the top spot this season.”

Clarion used a pack-mentality a year with its first- through fifth-place finishing runners at the D9 meet being within 37 seconds of each other. Four of those racers return this season including Nathaniel Lerch, Noah Schill, Nick Schill and Daniel Ketner.

See the District 9 Class 1A preview on pa.milesplit.com.