Mikayla Stoudt is just beginning what could be a stellar high school cross country career. Trevor Bergen is trying to put the finishing touches on what has already been a great high school harrier campaign.

They both ran to top 10 finishes in Saturday's 34th Annual DeSales Invitational Meet.

Stoudt, a freshman who was fourth at the season-opening Lion Invitational at Moravian Academy, placed fourth at DeSales in a field packed with some of the top teams in the eastern part of the state.

"I'm really happy with the way I ran," said Stoudt, who was undefeated as a middle school runner last year. "I usually don't go that low so that was good for me. I definitely wanted to be top five."

Stoudt ran the race in 20:26.9. She was second among District 11 runners as Bangor's Meredith Colton placed second. She was hoping to go under 21 minutes and was pleasantly surprised when she finished over half a minute faster than her goal.

"My parents told me what my time was," she said. "And I was like 'What?'"

Stoudt helped the Lady Trojans to a second-place finish as a team. She was followed by teammates Nicole Albertson (17th, 21:26.45), Melissa Lukas (23rd, 21:35.9), Cassidy Newman (31st, 22:00.01), Judith Skinker (32nd, 22:02.43), Cara Moyer (33rd, 22:04.13) and Danielle Clune (41st, 22:16.76).

The Lady Trojans are defending Class AAA District 11 champs and have their sites set on defending that title.

Parkland's boys are also defending champs. With six of their top seven runners returning, the Trojans are the favorite to win it again. They started the season with a second-place team finish at Moravian and the team title at DeSales.

"Our coach sets up our workouts so we peak during leagues and districts," said Bergen. "We did a great job [at DeSales], but we're looking forward to [the postseason] because that's what truly matters."

Bergen, a senior who placed third at districts last year, knows a district crown is within his reach this year, but he is taking it one step at a time.

"Individually, I'm cautiously confident," Bergen said. "I had a strong season last year. Looking statistically, I should be in that top group. It's any one of three or four of us all fighting for that top spot. Come district time it's anyone's ball game."

Bergen wants the team title just as much as individual gold, but he knows the two are not mutually exclusive. On Saturday he anchored the Trojans to the DeSales boys team championship as it beat William Tennent by just three points, 104-107.

He knows this year's district title is well within reach.

"I'm really confident in what we can do," he said. "But we've still got to work hard."

Two other Parkland boys runners finished in the top 25 to earn medals at DeSales.

The rest of the Trojan boys at DeSales were Will Nementh (14th, 17:47.74), Noah Cosgrove (22nd, 18:04.22), Grant Newman (27th, 18:16.25), Robert Strauss (34th, 18:32.56), Loren Skinker (41st, 18:42.66), Aiden Flynn (52nd, 18:58.59).

Bergen is seeking his third straight top 20 finish at districts and knows it could be a great year for him and his team.

"I've been building all through high school to get to this season," he said. "It's going to be the best one yet."

DeSales Invitational Results

GIRLS

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 five)

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

BOYS

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 five)

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