Maybe it was the heat, and maybe it was the hills, but the Lehigh Valley Conference Girls Cross Country Championship Meet was a slow race by most standards last week at the Bethlehem Municipal Field.

"Usually, they go out really hard. It was a strange start. The top ten were together for a good part of the race," said Freedom junior, Shaina Palmer, who placed seventh in 20:33.

Also in the top ten was Freedom freshman, Olivia Salerno, who placed eighth in 20:41.

"I think I did really good. The last mile, I could have worked a little harder. I like it a little colder, but the heat is good for your muscles. I just stayed up on my toes for the hills," she said.

Placing ninth was Bethlehem Catholic sophomore, Kassi Yocco, in 20:44.

"I was trying to pace myself off a Dieruff girl and a Northampton girl. It worked out okay until the heat and hills started to get to me," Yocco said.

All in all, Yocco was pleased with her race.

"I'm happy with it. I didn't do too good in the beginning of the season because of my injury, but I keep improving. I liked my time for this course. It was a minute off last year," she said.

Runners finishing in the top 30 included Freedom's Bridget Tarnowski, who was 17th in 21:17, Liberty's Nikki Nelson, who was 23rd in 21:32, and Bethlehem Catholic's Rowan Pepe, who was 29th in 21:52.

Freedom coach Bob Thear said, "Watching the girls, I thought that more than one would break 20:00. For the first half, they were in a big pack. It looked like nobody wanted to take it."

The Patriot girls placed fifth with 129 points, the Hurricanes were seventh with 189 points, and the Hawks were ninth with 222 points.