Northampton High School senior, Lyndsey Gallagher, took fifth place in the girls’ varsity race at the Northampton Cross Country Invitational on Sept. 3 at Bicentennial Park.

“It felt really good,” said Gallagher. “It was my last race on this course because we have no home meets this year, but I felt really good from the beginning. It was my best time since sophomore year.”

Gallagher, whose time was 19:15, had a difficult season last year, burdened by shin splints, but now they are something she can control.

“I just wanted to break 20:00 and push the pace,” she said. “I was using the Easton girls to push me because they’re our buddy team.”

Gallagher was in third or fourth place after the first mile, which she completed in 5:46.

“Since it was our home course, I knew I could push the last quarter mile,” said Gallagher. “It was a good start, and I’m excited for districts and what the season has to hold.”

Lexi Walsh, from Holy Cross High School won the race with a time of 18:33.

Bethlehem Catholic’s Rowan Pepe placed ninth in 19:27. Lauren Bunke placed 19th in 20:02, and Mary Frances Scheidel was 36th in 20:46, both also from Becahi.

Freedom’s Ally Young came in 38th with a time of 20:52.

Northampton’s Beth Albright was 39th with a time of 20:55.

“Lyndsey has looked strong through the first three weeks of practice and it showed in her fifth place overall finish,” said Northampton coach Dan Benner. “Beth continues to get better and better each year because she works so hard in practice.”

In team results, Easton placed first with 56 points, Bethlehem Catholic was sixth with 160 points, Northampton was ninth with 259 points, and Freedom was 12th with 318 points.