North Hills Cross Country teams finish strong, build toward future

Congratulations to the North Hills Cross Country teams on an outstanding fall season filled with growth, grit, and record-setting participation.

Both the boys and girls teams wrapped up section competition with a 4–3 record, finishing fourth overall. The teams earned victories over Pine-Richland, Mars, and Shaler, while the boys also topped Central Catholic and the girls defeated Oakland Catholic.

Girls Team Highlights

The girls squad capped its season with an impressive performance at the 2025 WPIAL Class 3A Championships, finishing 15th out of 26 schools — North Hills’ best team result since 2016. Senior Kayla Flanigan led the way for the girls, placing 51st overall, the best individual finish for a North Hills girl since Ava Pietrzyk’s top-10 result in 2016.

Despite a key runner being sidelined by illness during championship week, the team’s depth and determination stood out. Notably, three of the seven WPIAL competitors were freshmen, signaling a bright future for the program. With 19 members, this year’s roster was also believed to be the largest in the history of the girls cross country program.

Boys Team Highlights

The boys team, led by Jackson Hill, also delivered a remarkable effort, placing 10th out of 30 schools and matching last year’s result and marking the program’s best back-to-back finishes since 2014. The accomplishment is even more impressive given that four of the seven top runners from 2024 graduated, and three expected top performers were sidelined due to illness or injury.

Freshman James Dietz made an immediate impact, finishing as the eighth-fastest ninth grader overall. His time of 17:09 was the fastest by a North Hills freshman since 2007, when Joe Kush and Juris Silenieks set the standard. Of the seven WPIAL competitors, five were first-time championship racers, showcasing the team’s developing depth.

This year’s boys roster also made school history, featuring 28 runners, the largest group ever for North Hills.

A Season of Growth & Promise

Through adversity and change, both teams demonstrated resilience and unity. With record participation, strong underclassmen performances, and championship experience, the future looks bright for North Hills Cross Country.