Alec Lederer has lofty goals for his senior year. Through the season's first big race, he feels on pace to achieve them.

Lederer took fifth place Saturday at the 34th annual DeSales Invitational Cross Country Meet, beating all District 11 Class AAA runners in his first race of the season.

It was a good start to a season that the Northampton senior hopes ends with a District 11 title and a trip to the state championships.

"Hopefully a district championship," he said Saturday. "That's what we're gunning for. I don't have to win all the races. I just want that one. I'll give any other race for that one.

"Hopefully I can train right this year and peak at the end and have the race of my life."

Lederer was sixth at districts last year. The top two finishers in last year's Class AAA district championship race graduated. The third finisher, Parkland's Trevor Bergen, finished two places behind Lederer at DeSales. Lederer finished in 17:25.6. Bergen ran it in 17:27.53.

Lederer's performance was even more impressive considering he is coming off a knee injury that bothered him since spring. He has been treating an inflammation of the illiotibial band in his knee since track season and probably won't be 100 percent this entire season.

"I just thank God every day that he gave me the strength to recover and make it back here," Lederer said. "It was kind of painful, but I just have to run through it now. It's too late to take any time off. It's getting better."

Northampton's boys placed 15th in the team standings at DeSales.

Behind Lederer were teammates Chris Traugher (49th, 18:55.13), Ian Wright (108th, 20:25.70), Andrew Martuscelli (128th, 21:24.86), Lucas Yost (139th, 21:52.27), Jon Stevens (155th, 22:36.26), Brad Bamford (166th, 26:06.63).

Northampton's girls team finished 14th at DeSales, led by back-to-back finishers Joelle Perelli (38th, 22:09.62) and Hayley Jackson (39th, 22:13.08). Other Lady Kids who ran at DeSales are Brooke Durnin (87th, 25:12.85), Ali Reenock (109th, 27:01.6), Jasmine Kraftician (111th, 27:30.55), Charlie Amore (118th, 28:12.57).

DeSales Invitational Results

GIRLS (Top 10)

1. Summer Hill (Honesdale) 19:39.62, 2. Meredith Colton (Bangor) 19:53.84, 3. Sarah Brzostek (Exeter) 20:15.21, 4. Mikayla Stoudt (Parkland) 20:26.96, 5. Haley Yost (Northwestern) 20:39.16, 6. Anna Simpson (Boyertown) 20:39.82, 7. Shaina Palmer (Freedom) 20:45.64, 8. Casey Ortiz (Archbishop Wood) 20:50.69, 9. Shelby White (Southern Lehigh) 21:02.12, 10. Kristen Eberhardt (Pleasant Valley) 21:07.39.

Team scores (Top 5)

1. Archbishop Wood 90, 2. Parkland 100, 3. Boyertown 112, 4. Northwestern 140, 5. Honesdale 166, 14. Northampton 341.

BOYS (Top 10)

1. Jonathan Schmidt (Archbishop Wood) 17:05.45, 2. Matt Koch (Stroudsburg) 17:14.18, 3. Alex Balla (Quakertown), 4. Tyler Stelmack (Northwestern) 17:19.29, 5. Alex Lederer (Northampton) 17:25.60, 6. Curtis Lamp (Exeter) 17:26.70, 7. Trevor Bergen (Parkland) 17:27.53, 8. Coin McLaughlin (Quakertown) 17:31.32, 9. Mike Kane (William Tennent) 17:32.14, 10. Jaryd Flank (Wilson) 17:36.70.

Team scores (Top 5)

1. Parkland 104, 2. William Tennent 107, 3. Perkiomen Valley 137, 4. Freedom 190, 5. Holy Ghost Prep 191, 15. Northampton 417.