Angels Flying
The 2023 St. Joseph's Academy Angels appear to be headed for a 2nd-ever state cross country trophy. Stay tuned for more about their first trophy and their two-sport star who led the way. Coach Scott House's Angels might even now be the favorites to win the Class 4 state crown after claiming the Gans Creek Classic Blue team title.
St. Joseph's sophomore Savannah Amann has supporters cheering her on 3,060 meters into the Girls Blue race in which she finished 3rd and led the Angels to victory.
After sitting 4th and 2nd at the 1k and 2k marks, St. Joe's took the lead in the 3rd kilometer. They increased a 10-point lead to 25 at 4k and finished with 103 points for a final 28-point margin of victory. The Angels were led by their #1, sophomore Savannah Amann. Two weeks after getting the individual title and leading her team to victory in the Forest Park XC Festival's 2nd most competitive race, the Gold division, Amann placed 3rd and led the Angels to the Gans Creek Classic Blue title.
The St. Joseph Academy girls claimed the Blue Division title, with their top 3 runners in the fore, mid, and background. In 3rd at 1130 meters is Savannah Amann (front left), while teammate Lucy Rines trails in 4th, and Margaret Boedefeld chases in 12th (back left).
Amann was in 3rd nearly the whole race, sitting in bronze medal position at each of the 5-kilometer markers. Freshman teammate Lucy Rines wasn't far behind, taking 5th in 19:42. All five scorers for St. Joseph's were underclassmen. Sophomore Margaret Boedefeld was 23rd to give the Angels 3 top-25 medalists, while sophomore Riley Villicana was 40th, and freshman Natalie Roxas finished 48th. Juniors Sadie Neff and Macie Diguiseppe rounded out the squad placing 66th and 161st in the field of 283 racers and 36 full teams.
It was a repeat performance for St. Joseph's. The Angels captured the 2022 title with 91 points. Amann led the way with a 13th-place finish. Last season ended with a 10th-place Class 4 state finish for the Angels.