Wallenpaupack’s June Brown leads the pack early during the 32nd annual Lackawanna County Commissioner’s Race at McDade Park in Scranton on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
North Pocono’s Brayden Schmidt emerges from the woods during the 32nd annual Lackawanna County Commissioner’s Race at McDade Park in Scranton on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Old Forge’s Elena Bialkowski finishes 7th overall with a time of 20:27.7 during the 32nd annual Lackawanna County Commissioner’s Race at McDade Park in Scranton on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Mid Valley’s Elijah Campbell runs in the 32nd annual Lackawanna County Commissioner’s Race at McDade Park in Scranton on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Forest City’s Blake German looks to the final stretch during the 32nd annual Lackawanna County Commissioner’s Race at McDade Park in Scranton on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Pittston Area’s Quinnie Jones finishes 13th overall with a time of 21:20.2 during the 32nd annual Lackawanna County Commissioner’s Race at McDade Park in Scranton on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
93 varsity women participate in the 32nd annual Lackawanna County Commissioner’s Race at McDade Park in Scranton on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Scranton Prep’s Vella Byrne rests after finishing first overall with a time of 19:18.1 during the 32nd annual Lackawanna County Commissioner’s Race at McDade Park in Scranton on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Abington Heights’ Marley Gilboy finishes second overall with a time of 19:35.4 during the 32nd annual Lackawanna County Commissioner’s Race at McDade Park in Scranton on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A group of runners begin the 32nd annual Lackawanna County Commissioner’s Race at McDade Park in Scranton on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Wallenpaupack’s Kelcie Fillebrown finishes 12th overall with a time of 21:16.3 during the 32nd annual Lackawanna County Commissioner’s Race at McDade Park in Scranton on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Scranton’s Bianca Perez pushes through the finish during the 32nd annual Lackawanna County Commissioner’s Race at McDade Park in Scranton on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Scranton’s Mikey Byrne emerges from the woods during the 32nd annual Lackawanna County Commissioner’s Race at McDade Park in Scranton on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Junior versity boys run in the finishing stretch of the 32nd annual Lackawanna County Commissioner’s Race at McDade Park in Scranton on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
93 varsity women participate in the 32nd annual Lackawanna County Commissioner’s Race at McDade Park in Scranton on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Wallenpaupack’s June Brown leads the pack early during the 32nd annual Lackawanna County Commissioner’s Race at McDade Park in Scranton on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
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Wallenpaupack’s June Brown leads the pack early during the 32nd annual Lackawanna County Commissioner’s Race at McDade Park in Scranton on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Scranton Prep’s Vella Byrne, and Riverside’s Jack Davies won the girls and the boys varsity events Saturday at the Lackawanna County Commissioners’ races at McDade Park.
Byrne won the girls race with a time of 19:18.10, about 17 seconds before second-place finisher Abington Heights’ Marley Gilboy (19:35.31).
“I think I did pretty good,” Byrne said. “I was happy with my effort. When my body got tired, I had to go into my mental state, and that really helped me push through it.”
The Scranton Prep freshman will look to continue to build off Saturday’s win.
“I definitely think I can get better because it’s the start of the season,” Byrne said. “I think I can achieve more in the future as the season goes on, but I think I’m in a good place right now.”
Calli Gilboy (20:12.02) finished fifth, Giada Lovecchio (21:22.47) placed 14th, Addisyn Mummert (21:26.34) took 17th and Layla Caraballo (21:56.48) secured 22nd, as Abington Heights captured the team title with a score of 57.
Scranton Prep placed second, with Aileana Connor (20:02.15) finishing third, Lilly Mayer (22:13.96) placing 27th, Ella Schofield (22:24.18) taking 28th and Rebecca Yeager (22:39.59) securing 31st for the Classics.
“The team’s performance was really good,” Byrne said. “We’re very together, and the vibes were high.”
Wallenpaupack’s June Brown (20:05.39) finished fourth.
Davies won the boys race with a time of 16:41.56, about 15 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Abington Heights’ Joseph Grad (16:56.30).
“I’m pretty happy with it,” Davies said. “First two miles, I got out really well. I gapped the pack a little bit, got where I wanted to be. Last mile, though, it hit me hard. I can’t lie. I started to slow down, but I pulled away with it.”
The Riverside junior excelled during the downhill portions of the race.
“I can open up my stride and that’s where I usually take it away, and that’s kind of what I did today,” Davies said. “I made the 180 turn at the very bottom, and I could just tell that was my breaking point, for sure.”
Andrew Connor (16:59.68) placed third, Marco Nardone (17:11.15) finished sixth, Connor Moore (17:12.05) took seventh and Brady Higgins (17:46.60) placed 15th, as Riverside also captured the team title with a score of 29. The Vikings were the PIAA Class 1A runner-up last season, finishing second to Elk Lake.
“I think it was really good,” Davies said of the team’s performance. “We’re obviously looking for that state title this year.”
Dylan Spatz (17:14.56) secured eighth, Nick Sutton (17:29.71) took 12th, Owen Scharle (17:42.53) placed 14th and Noa Thomas (17:51.22) finished 16th, as Abington Heights placed second with a score of 48.
Nanticoke Area’s Daniel Houssock (17:04.02) finished fourth, and Mid Valley’s Chris von Ahnen (17:06.15) rounded out the top five.
Forest City’s Blake German won the boys junior high race with a time of 11:08.98 on the 1.8-mile course, while Abington Heights’ Lila Rottevell won the girls junior high race with a time of 12:41.31.
Boys varsity top 25: 1. Jack Davies (RIV), 16:41.56. 2. Joseph Grad (AH), 16:56.30. 3. Andrew Connor (RIV), 16:59.68. 4. Daniel Houssock (NAN), 17:04.02. 5. Chris von Ahnen (MV), 17:06.15. 6. Marco Nardone (RIV), 17:11.15. 7. Connor Moore (RIV), 17:12.05. 8. Dylan Spatz (AH), 17:14.56. 9. Joseph Bly (HAN), 17:16.76. 10. Daniel Salinas (WAL), 17:17.45. 11. Reeve Owen (MV), 17:25.29. 12. Nick Sutton (AH), 17:29.71. 13. Luis Mercado (MV), 17:31.06. 14. Owen Scharle (AH), 17:42.53. 15. Brady Higgins (RIV), 17:46.60. 16. Noa Thomas (AH), 17:51.22. 17. Chase Predmore (WAL), 17:52.80. 18. Max Hoffner (SCR), 17:58.16. 19. Jahliel LaRoche (DUN), 18:00.45. 20. Paul Rowlands (AH), 18:00.49. 21. Alexander Freeman (WAL), 18:02.14. 22. Nathan Mosher (MV), 18:02.37. 23. Gavin Best (NP), 18:02.90. 24. Connor McHale (NP), 18:04.89. 25. Ethan Von Voigt (MV), 18:08.15.
Girls varsity top 25: 1. Vella Byrne (SP), 19:18.10. 2. Marley Gilboy (AH), 19:35.31. 3. Aileana Connor (SP), 20:02.15. 4. June Brown (WAL), 20:05.39. 5. Cali Gilboy (AH), 20:12.02. 6. Abby Kilker (HON), 20:15.88. 7. Meg Bartlebaugh (SCR), 20:19.68. 8. Elena Bialkowski (OF), 20:27.63. 9. Livvy O’Brien (DUN), 20:55.87. 10. Megan O’Donnell (NP), 20:58.04. 11. Evolette Reinard (NP), 21:14.61. 12. Kelcie Fillebrown (WAL), 21:16.27. 13. Quinnie Jones (PA), 21:20.18. 14. Giada Lovecchio (AH), 21:22.47. 15. Brynn Negvesky (OF), 21:23.77. 16. Bianca Perez (SCR), 21:24.50. 17. Addisyn Mummert (AH), 21:26.34. 18. Sarah O’Donnell (NP), 21:32.68. 19. Anna Mizenko (NP), 21:52.11. 20. Alexis Noone (PA), 21:53.79. 21. Ayla Schappert (HAN), 21:55.01. 22. Layla Caraballo (AH), 21:56.48. 23. Alydia Olsommer (WAL), 21:58.34. 24. Fiona Grady (AH), 22:01.21. 25. Cali Talarico (OF), 22:01.25.
Boys junior high top 10: 1. Blake German (FC), 11:08.98. 2. Bennett Scharle (AH), 11:23.48. 3. Sagan Suda (SCR), 11:29.32. 4. Sawyer Buselli (WAL), 11:35.46. 5. Mikey Byrne (SCR), 11:45.21. 6. Elijah Campbell (MV), 11:46.53. 7. Jon Tarr (HP), 11:48.01. 8. Jerry Connolly (RIV), 11:51.84. 9. Maxon Best (NP), 11:57.58. 10. Reed Lesjack (FC), 12:02.52.
Girls junior high top 10: 1. Lila Rottevell (AH), 12:41.31. 2. Parker DeLeon (WAL), 12:46.64. 3. Addison Trently (AH), 12:51.36. 4. Harper Laffey (SCR), 13:09.94. 5. Aubrey Franks (FC), 13:19.89. 6. Giada Sparacino (MV), 13:20.13. 7. Anna Nebzdyosky (FC), 13:26.15. 8. Kendra Maldonado (MV), 13:29.81. 9. Aleigha Gliniecki (VV), 13:30.69. 10. Margaret Schloessser (HON), 13:32.99.