Awesome is how Liberty senior Darlyn Fermin described taking third place, up from sixth place in leagues the week before, at the District XI Class 3A Cross Country Championships last Wednesday at Bethlehem Municipal Golf Course.

Fermin looked just as awesome heading into the finish, having improved his time by, yes, an awesome 31 seconds.

“Jogging, going easy, getting in shape, drinking water, resting,” said Fermin regarding his preparation for districts. “I felt better today, my body and my legs. I got a good start with a group of five in front and let other people take the wind.”

Toward the end of the race, it was Fermin, Easton’s Cosmo Cardone, and Parkland’s Nick Bower vying for first place.

“By the tree, [Nick] and Cosmo passed me, then I passed [Nick],” Fermin said.

In the end, Cardone placed first in 16:17.94, and Easton’s Joseph Ozgar was second in 16:26.20.

Fermin’s time was 16:30.31.

“I felt really good, but I was tired,” he said.

Also feeling good was fellow Hurricane Cole Frank, who had a sixth place finish.

“I am very happy about my race, and I’m looking forward to states this year,” Frank said. “I wanted to go out fast today. It worked very well. Darlyn was right next to me, and then he pulled away at the golf course.”

Frank carried on, however, running close to Southern Lehigh freshman Alexander Kane.

“I wanted to beat him because everyone else in front of me were seniors. I could hear him, and he caught up to me,” Frank said.

But in the end, Frank stayed ahead with a time of 16:35.68 to Kane’s 16:37.11.

Also competing for the Hurricanes were Ryan Wycherley, 40th in 17:47.25, Casey Frank, 48th in 17:59.17, Paul Jensen, 57th in 18:18.39, Phil Bezas, 60th in 18:31.66, and Sam Graybeal, 68th in 18:58.68.

Competing for Freedom were Nick Bauer, 30th in 17:29.99, Dylan Stahl, 56th in 18:17.13, Josh Noel, 59th in 18:31.66, Matt Parkin, 72nd in 19:11.80, Ryan Smizaski, 73rd in 19:13.63, and Andrew Morales, 74th in 19:14.05.

In team results, Easton placed first, Liberty placed seventh, and Freedom placed ninth.