Bethlehem Catholic junior Skylar Husser, the Golden Hawks’ only female runner on this year’s cross country team, finished in 12th place among 65 harriers in the final dual meet of the regular season on Oct. 13 at Louise Moore Park in Easton.

“I run with the guys most days, and I’m really close with them,” Husser said. “They’re good friends of mine, but sometimes I wish I had that girls community, but it doesn’t shy me away from the sport at all.”

Husser’s time was 22:26.

“In a little bit of the distance in front of me, I saw (Freedom’s) Taylor (Vidumsky) and (Liberty’s) Ali (Yerk). I tried to stick with those girls. It’s nice to keep pace with them, and it’s friendly competition. I tried to kick it near the end, but I kind of realized I saved a little bit too much for the end of the race,” Husser said.

“Last year, I was finishing in the bottom half of most of these races, but I’ve realized my love for the sport, and I’ve been extremely consistent with it. [Becahi coach Krystyn Fenon] is an amazing coach and the only reason I stuck with the sport and the only reason I am where I’m at. She taught me that what you put in is what you get out. No one is gonna run that race for you, and you are entirely responsible for your own progress. She’s very encouraging and taught me that it’s OK to have bad races, but everything’s a learning experience.”

This past summer, the Hawks trained five to six days a week.

“Skylar’s made a lot of progress this whole season,” Coach Fenon said. “She really bought into the summer program this year, so her races took it up to a whole new level for her. I’m really proud of her work.”

Liberty’s Elizabeth McClarin won the girls race (19:03), and teammate Cali Sobrinski came in second (19:42).

Freedom’s Hannah Brodhead was third (19:58), Easton’s Lyla Knoble placed fourth (20:16), Liberty’s Katie Drabouski came in fifth (20:20), Easton’s Vivian Clark was sixth (20:35), and Nazareth’s Lily Viemian finished seventh (21:36).

Liberty’s Alexandra Yerk took eighth place (21:39), Nazareth’s Peyton Sager was ninth (21:43), Freedom’s Taylor Vidumsky placed 10th (21:55), and Liberty’s Remy Weagly was 11th (22:12).

In team results, Liberty girls beat Freedom, 19-40, Northampton, 15-48, Nazareth, 18-37, and Easton, 20-35.

Freedom girls beat Northampton, 21-34, but lost to Nazareth, 36-23, and Easton, 38-23.