Lippert, Giannotti, Songer to 'states'

Andy Lippert (above, left) and Taylor Songer , and Emily Giannotti (right) display their hardware they earned for track.

Three local runners are off to Shippensburg University for the PIAA State Track and Field Championships Friday and Saturday.

Cameron County sprinter Andy Lippert and Coudersport distance runner Emily Giannotti head to the meet as PIAA District 9 champions, while Cameron County Taylor Songer is a D9 runnerup.

Lippert, a sophomore, will compete in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes. He blistered the Brookville asphalt in 11.51 seconds to win the district medal in the 100. Lippert also took top honors in the 200 with a time of 23.1. He holds Cameron County's school record in the 100 at 11.08.

Giannotti literally ran away with the 3200-me- ter event. She crossed the finish line in 11:06.07, more than a minute ahead of the field. The sophomore already holds Coudersport's school records in both the 1600 and 3200.

Songer earned a trip to states by taking second in the 800-meter run with a 2:03.56, about a half-second behind Elk County Catholic's Logan Haberberger.