Girls Cross Country: North Feature Athlete - Northgate's Lily Hall

Name: Lily Hall
High School: Northgate
Grade: 10
Sport: Cross Country

Background Info: Hall ran a 21:39 at the 2010 WPIALs and was a part of Northgate’s 19th place PIAA team. At WPIALs, Hall came in just before teammate Paige Baierl. At states, Hall came in just after. Now, Hall and Baierl are working harder than ever to fill the shoes of the now graduated Bridgit Walters (4th place at the 2010 state meet, with a time of 19:38). Hall had a stellar 2011 track season in which she placed fourth in the 3,200 for Avonworth/Northgate at Central Valley’s Warrior Classic. 

“Lily really emerged in track last year,” says Northgate Cross Country Coach Frank Nesko. “She made the WPIAL in Class-AAA for the 2-mile.” Nesko adds that the presence of fellow sophomore Paige Baierl is significant. “Paige was right with [Hall]. The two of them are working really hard.”

Nesko explains that the Hall/Baierl dynamic is essential to each runner’s progress. “They both have a good understanding that each is better with the other,” Nesko says. “They both have their strengths and their weaknesses. They really are working to help each other out in those areas. They run together and push each other.”

For Hall, the result is speed. Nesko compares Hall’s current performance to the 2010 performance of Bridgit Walters. “Looking at what Bridgit was doing last year,” Nesko says, “Lily is right in step and Paige is right with her.”

Northgate’s upcoming events include a scrimmage with Riverview, the annual Red, White, and Blue meet at Schenley, and an away meet at speedy North Hills. But, Hall will be prepared. Northgate comes from the tough 2-AA Section, so Nesko tells his runners what they need to hear to stay competitive all season long: “You’re going to see the best week in and week out.”