All-Delco Cross Country: Strath Haven’s Crawford, Garnet Valley’s Garrett at top of experienced class

UPPER PROVIDENCE — Ava Crawford spent the summer of 2019 at Long Beach Island in New Jersey. For motivation to train for the upcoming cross country season, she had younger sister Rowe push her to work harder.

Sean Garrett always will remember the feeling he had after the 2017 District 1 cross country championship race. He failed to qualify for the state meet and made up his mind that it wasn’t going to happen again.

Crawford, a Strath Haven senior, and Garrett, a senior at Garnet Valley, started strong and kept getting better as the 2019 cross country campaign went on. By the final day of the season, they had earned the chance to take part in their respective PIAA Class 3A championship races. Crawford had a disappointing finish at states in Hershey while Garrett became the only runner from Delaware County to come back wearing a state meet medal after finishing 10th.

For their consistent performances during a long running season, Crawford and Garrett have been named runners of the year as they head up the 2019 Daily Times All-Delco Cross Country team, which was selected by the Times after consultation with area coaches.

Joining them on the first team are Rowe Crawford of Strath Haven, Liz Egan of Penncrest, Lindsey Smith of Notre Dame, Theresa Trainer and Katie Till of Cardinal O’Hara, Maura Timoney, Mike Donnelly and Josh Fingerhut of Haverford, Frank Brown of Radnor, Jalen Chin and Patrick Theveny of Penncrest and Owen Maier of Episcopal Academy.

Timoney, a junior, sophomore Rowe Crawford, and Trainer, a freshman, are the only underclassmen on the senior-dominated 2019 team.

Ava Crawford is the fifth Strath Haven female to be named Runner of the Year, joining Melissa Frick (2007), Sarah Rutkowski (2008), Hannah Grossman (2010-11) and Grace Forbes (2018).

Garrett is the first Runner of the Year from Garnet Valley since Julie Karaszkiewicz (2003) and the second Jaguars male runner to earn the honor, joining Kyle Barnum (1999).

Running has been a part of Crawford’s life for many years.

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