Freedom High School cross country runners, Shaina Palmer and Olivia Salerno, clinched berths for the PIAA State Cross Country Championships after qualifying at the District 11 Class AAA meet last Wednesday at the Bethlehem Municipal Field.

Salerno placed sixth in 19:44.

"I felt pretty good because I beat my time and place from leagues. I pulled away at the last mile-and-a-half. I just knew I had the energy to keep up with the other girls, and they started to pull away, and I didn't want to hold back," Salerno said.

Palmer placed tenth in 20:00.

"We went out a lot faster because Mikayla [Stoudt] and Paige [Stoner] were having a competition, and the rest of the girls fed off that," said Palmer.

Stoner of Pottsville won the district championship with a time of 18:46, and Stoudt of Parkland placed second in 18:59.

Palmer paced herself with the second pack of runners, including fourth place finisher Diana Hammerstone of Easton, and fifth place finisher, Katie Bacher of Emmaus.

"I just tried to hold on at the end," Palmer said. "I came in with a better mindset, and our workouts this week were shorter and faster."

Finishing first for the Liberty Hurricanes in 20:36 and 22nd overall was freshman, Raisa Kochmaruk. Nicole Nelson came in 34th in 21:10.

The PIAA State Cross Country Championships are scheduled for Nov. 2 in Hershey.