Emmaus' Katie Bacher remembers just how close she was to missing states last year in the 1600-meter run.

The junior finished in third place in last year's meet, but after the first- and second-place finishers dropped the 1600 to focus on other events in states, Bacher got her opportunity on the highest stop of the podium.

Bacher didn't want to take that risk again this season, so she took matters into her own hands last week at teh District 11 Championships at Whitehall High School.

Going into the fourth lap of the 1600, Bacher was just steps behind Easton's Diana Hammerstone. And while Hammerstone pulled away with each passing meter, Bacher kept her distance from the rest of the pack to finish second in a time of 5:07.74. That finish sends her back to the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University this Friday and Saturday.

"That was exactly what I wanted to happen today," Bacher said. "I was so nervous for this race, and I wanted to go to states so badly. Last year I kind of got in by default because I was third, and then first and second scratched. I got to go instead."

Hammerstone ran a 5:05.84, nearly two seconds faster than Bacher's new personal best.

"As soon as Diana from Easton took the lead, I just tried to stick right with her," Bacher said. "I went into second and just tried to hold that for the rest of the race."

Heading into the race, Bacher wanted to use the wind to her advantage by hanging in the middle of the pack, rather than starting off out front. After watching competitor after competitor fall further to the back, Bacher steadily progressed into that second-place position.

"I was probably fourth of fifth, so I was right behind those front girls," Bacher said. "That's right where I wanted to be. I didn't want to go out leading into this wind, but I didn't want to get stuck in the back like I was last week [at the league championship meet]."

Bacher, who also placed fourth in the 800-meter run, is one of four Emmaus' athletes to qualify for states.

On the boys' side, Ryan Paradise ran a similar race in the 1600. His second-place finish in 4:26.62 qualified the Emmaus junior for states once again after he ran in a relay last year.

"I was basically sitting behind in third or fourth for the entire race," Paradise said. "The wind was brutal. I was just trying to hold that off, and stay behind so I could kick it at the end. Coming into the fourth lap, the final 200 meters, I was like, 'This is when I have to go.'"

Wilson's Joe Espinal won the 1600 in 4:25.60.

Paradise is aiming for a new personal record at states.

"It's the goal I've had all year," Paradise said. "I'm definitely looking forward to keep training the rest of this week and into next week to try and get a big PR."

Paradise finished fourth in the 800-meter run to earn another district medal. Ashley Petre (second in discus), Katherine Lynch (third in pole vault), Greg Jaindl (third in 800 meter run) and Brandon Acevedo-Pena (fourth in 300 meter hurdles) also medaled at districts.

The Hornet boys' 4x400 meter relay (Acevedo-Pena, Jaindl, Paradise and Jacob Feiertag) and 4x800 meter relay (Jaindl, Feiertag, Paradise and Philip Houseknecht) teams placed third.