The Ping Sisters Dominate the Class A Distance Races

                                                 Photos by Gene Niemi

Grace Ping Wins the Class A 1600.  The Ping's near sweep of the first two places in the 3200
and 1600 produced enough points to put Winona Cotter in second in
the team scoring for Girls' Class A.  

                                    Lauren Ping on the outside.  Grace Ping (1) on the inside
                                                  with two laps to go in the 3200

Lauren kept her lead to win while Grace was passed  by Defending champion in the 3200, Tierney Wolfgram, who finish second. Lauren was asked after the race if the sisters had meant to
run side by side and set the pace, "No,"she said,   the sisters each  ran as fast as they could.
          Grace said that her season was interrupted by injuries. An injury hampered her at the State Cross County championships. A hip injury caused her to alter her stride that resulted in more injuries.  She got in enough training to be able to win the 1600.  Grace's past accomplishments resulted in a group of high school boys approached her at the  Hamline Elite Meet and asked if she'd pose with the boys for a photograph.  "Sure," Grace said.