Four high school cross country standouts commit to college powers

4 area xc girls commit

Twitter images announce the college commitments of Claire Walters (top right), Jenna Schulz (left) and Phoebe White and Olivia Morganti (bottom).

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Claire Walters made her decision on a bus ride home from New York City.

After running the second-fastest time for a high school girl on the 2.5-mile cross country course in Saturday’s Manhattan Invitational, the Fayetteville-Manlius senior standout decided to run in college at North Carolina State.

Walters’ choice was followed in the next few days by fellow senior Phoebe White’s commitment to the University of Pennsylvania. Then Liverpool star Jenna Schulz announced that she’d be going to North Carolina State as well, and Christian Brothers Academy senior Olivia Morganti also chose Penn.

While none of the decisions was related, four of the top senior runners in Section III will be going to two nationally ranked cross country programs.

This week, N.C. State women’s cross country was ranked No. 9 and Penn was ranked No. 23 in Division I by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Schulz, who finished second to Walters at Wednesday's SCAC championships at Baldwinsville, said she and Walters had a nice talk after the race.

"We're pretty good friends," the Liverpool runner said. "I was excited that she's going there. It'll be nice having someone you know on the team."

Schulz said she didn't decide on N.C. State because of Walters' choice. She was already looking at the Raleigh school because of its well-known engineering program, which she is interested in.

Morganti, the CBA senior who is ranked first among area runners in Class B, said her decision to run at Penn, which came around the same time as that of F-M’s White, was coincidental as well.

Acceptance into the prestigious Wharton School was the key for Morganti, who plans a major in business.

“At Penn, the people were really attractive to me,” she said. “I think there will be a good balance between school, running and life.”

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