Life gives second chances. Sports are no exception.

When it comes to Emmaus cross country runners Katie Bacher and Abby Dalton, the duo knows all about getting another opportunity.

Bacher finished last week’s District 11 Class AAA Cross Country Championships as the fifth-fastest girls runner. Dalton placed shortly behind her counterpart, taking 10th place and earning the final medal of the Class AAA girls’ field. Both qualified for the upcoming state meet on Saturday for the second straight year.

But it’s their stories behind the scenes that make last Wednesday’s accomplishments even more satisfying.

Bacher turned around last year’s postseason, one she wasn’t completely satisfied with, to a top-five finish and a trip back to Hershey. As a junior, she was faced with numerous illnesses, including and iron deficiency during the league and district championships.

“Last season I really had a great season until the postseason, and that was tough,” said Bacher, who is battling a mild cold. “But now I sort of get like a second chance. Hopefully whatever this sickness is, [it] is going to go away.”

The Hornets’ leader was as high as second place with about a half-mile to go, but that’s when Stroudsburg’s Allana Powlette, who won the race in 19:34.46, passed Bacher. In the final uphill stretch, Easton’s Diana Hammerstone and Pocono Mountain East’s Rachael Davalos got by her as well.

“I know the leaders like [Liberty’s] Raisa [Kochmaruk] and [Easton’s] Diana [Hammerstone] they went out super fast,” Bacher said. “I just tried to stay back with the next pack, and then try to work forward and pick people off as the race went on.”

Dalton, who missed the second half of last year’s track and field season, as well as much as this year’s cross country campaign with various health obstacles, returned in the second-to-last regular season meet. And after last week’s 14th-place finish at leagues, she repeated as a district medalist a week later on the same course.

“It was a lot of things, but basically I needed orthotics,” Dalton said after finishing in 20:18.35. “My legs weren’t balanced...It started at the beginning of last cross country year, but I was able to control it. During track season, I couldn’t control it anymore.”

The sophomore watched a number of runners pass her in the final half mile, but she was able to put together a strong final kick in the last stretch to speed by Northampton’s Joelle Perelli.

“When I was toward the end I was around 10th place, and then a whole bunch of people, probably like four, passed me,” Dalton said. “Then I started sprinting and I barely passed the 10th girl at the end.”

In just her fourth meet of 2015, Dalton had one goal in mind-qualify for states.

“I wasn’t really sure what to expect,” Dalton said. “I just wanted to make it to states, whether I got a medal or not. That’s what I really wanted to do.

“The first mile felt great, it always seems to because it’s a fast mile. The second mile didn’t feel so hot. The third mile was just a third mile. Your body feels really bad, but then your mind starts to feel better.”

The Emmaus girls finished in third place as a team, and the trio of Katrina Durrwachter (21), Amber Ziegler (23) and Abby Heilenman (24) narrowly missed out on a trip to states. Brynn Myers and Shannon Burkholder placed 42nd and 43rd, respectively, to round out the Hornet harriers.

Joining Bacher and Dalton at states is Ryan Paradise, who finished the Class AAA boys’ race in 17:28.43.

“Last week we had EPCs and it was on the same course, and I just didn’t feel good,” Paradise said. “This week, I took a different approach. I decided to hang back a little bit more and then try to have a strong finish.”

What makes Paradise’s trip to Hershey that much more impressive is the fact he began running cross country this season. He doesn’t look like a runner coming off his first postseason trip on a cross country terrain.

“It’s definitely something that was one of my big goals going into the season, especially it being my first season,” Paradise said. “I’m extremely happy with how this race turned out, and I’m really looking forward to getting back to training and pushing myself back at Hershey.”

Del Vierling (26), Greg Jaindl (32) and Charlie Norelli (35) paced the boys finishers as the Hornets placed fourth as a team. Todd Moxey (45), Ian Adams (51) and Jacob Feiertag (52) rounded out Emmaus’ runners.

7. Ryan Paradise 17:28.43

26. Del Vierling

32. Greg Jaindl

35. Charlie Norelli

45. Todd Moxey

51. Ian Adams

52. Jacob Feiertag

BOYS FOURTH AS A TEAM.

5. Katie Bacher

10. Abby Dalton

21. Katrina Durrwachter

23. Amber Ziegler

24. Abby Heilenman

42. Brynn Myers

43. Shannon Burkholder

GIRLS THIRD AS A TEAM