CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
In the District 4 championships at Bloomsburg University, Lewisburg’s Baylee Espinosa demonstrated a new mindset. As the favorite in the Class AA girls race, Espinosa lived up to expectations, securing her District 4 title and setting a personal-best time. Her performance earned her a spot in the PIAA Championships in Hershey on Nov. 4.
Espinosa acknowledged her favored status, stating, “Last year was kind of a blur but this year, knowing coming in that I was favored to win, I just focused on running my race. I’ve been working really hard at getting out (fast) and doing whatever I can do to help people have the best race that they can.”
True to her strategy, Espinosa started strong, clocking in at 5:35 for the first mile and maintaining her pace to finish with an impressive time of 18:20.
CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
In addition to Espinosa’s individual win, Lewisburg secured second place in the team standings, securing a spot in the state meet as a team. Maya Sak finished 12th for the Green Dragons, followed by Alanna Jacob in 14th, Theo Wilkinson in 23rd, and Lauren Schwartz in 40th.
Although Warrior Run narrowly missed the opportunity to qualify as a team, Claire Dufrene represented the Defenders with a third-place finish. Dufrene strategized by staying with a group of Danville runners, ensuring her own ticket to the state meet.
Dufrene explained her approach, saying, “I was trying to go out with the second group behind Baylee and I think it worked well for me. I was working well with that Danville group and if one girl went, I would just go with her.”
CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Danville dominated the team competition, placing five runners in the top seven and claiming the team title. Victoria Bartholomew finished second, while Odin Ryer and Hannah Bartholomew rounded out the top five.
Other area runners also qualified for the state meet. Wellsboro’s Lauren Kosek finished ninth, followed by Hughesville’s Grace Fortin in 18th place, Cowanesque Valley’s Clare McKee in 19th place, and Warrior Run’s Keiara Shaffer in 20th place.
In the Class A race, Mansfield secured second place in the team standings, earning a spot in the state meet. Jaci Fairchild led the way for the Tigers with a fifth-place finish, closely followed by Madelynne Johns in eighth place. South Williamsport also advanced two runners, Addisyn Morrison and Olivia Loudenslager, who finished in 13th and 14th place, respectively.
CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Northeast Bradford claimed the Class A team title, led by individual winner Gracelyn Laudermilch. Laudermilch competed neck and neck with Southern Columbia’s Katie Moncavage, the defending District champion, in the first mile before pulling away to secure the victory with a time of 18:58.
CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
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