For the second time in two weeks, Liberty High School sophomore, Raisa Kochmaruk, surprised competitors and fans, winning the District XI Class AAA Girls Cross Country Championships last Thursday at the Bethlehem Municipal Golf Course.

"I feel good, good, really happy," said Kochmaruk. "Last week, I proved to myself I could do it. It was definitely a motivator."

The week before, Kochmaruk won the East Penn Conference Championship, placing first in 19:26. Her district time was 19:11.70.

"It was a different dynamic with different people in this race. The five people at the top battled the entire way. I knew it was going to be more competitive," Kochmaruk said.

That top five included Freedom High School senior, Shaina Palmer, who had a difficult race in the conference meet, coming back to place third in districts.

"I was relieved," said Palmer. "No repeat of last week. No repeat of last week."

Palmer's district time was 19:19.90, well under her conference time.

"I went back to what's my style. I sat back a lot more. Even though I wanted to move up, I tried to control myself. At the two-mile mark, I wanted to make a move, but I sat back a little longer. Coming off the turn, I picked up the pace," Palmer said.

Also picking up the pace were Kochmaruk and Pocono Mountain East's Rachel Davalos, who took second place in 19:19.50.

Kochmaruk said, "It was the most painful finish, physically. I was kind of just praying I had enough."

Out of 16 teams, the Patriots placed 6th with 174 points, and the Hurricanes were 11th with 261 points.

Freedom coach Bob Thear said, "Shaina definitely bounced back from last week. She ran a great race, and Olivia Salerno ran fantastic today."

Salerno placed 15th in 20:21.30.

In the Class AA race, Bethlehem Catholic's Kassi Yocco placed 7th in 20:09.30.

"The hills were good. It's more the back golf course that gets me. I tried to have more positive thoughts," said Yocco. "The last mile got me because I was in fourth. I'm just excited I get to go to states."

Joining Yocco at the PIAA State Cross Country Championships on Saturday in Hershey will be teammate, Rowan Pepe, who placed 12th in 20:25.50, as well as Kochmaruk and Palmer.

As a team, the Hawks had 131 points, placing 4th out of 15 teams.

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