Kosek ran 18:36.7 to take first, over a minute ahead of Athens’ Sara Bronson (19:45.4) in second place.

“I’m super excited,” Kosek said about the race. “It was a big thing in my head all week trying to decide how I was going to run it, and how big I wanted my goals to be. I think I came out and executed how I wanted to.”

This is another big invitational where Kosek has dropped quite bit of time compared to last year.

“It’s a lot of confidence knowing I’ve been taking around a minute off a lot of these big races from last year,” she said. “Thinking I can get a minute at this meet, and districts, and states, is a minute or more off of it, it gives me a lot of confidence in where I can place. 

Her goal is to finish in the top three at the Class AA, District IV Championships in two weeks, which is one of the toughest races in the state.

“Hopefully we’ll be getting into a few solid workouts, and then making sure we’re fully rested for districts,” Kosek remarked. 

Wellsboro (141) was seventh as a team, with Molly Tice (25:31.8) and Anja Przbycien (25:35.5) taking 35th and 36th.

Karah Blackwell (26:15.9) took 39th, and Luisa Crocco (30;06.1) was 49th.

On the boys’ side Max Macias put down a good time as he finished third overall in 17:04.8.

“I felt great, I wasn’t expecting to get third at all,” he said. “I was just hoping to get fifth, and pass maybe Michael (Knefley) and Lawrence (Halbfoerster).”

He ran with them in the pack just behind the leaders for much of the race before moving up, then holding off NEB’s Ryan Jones at the end.

This gives him confidence that he make states at districts in two weeks.

“I’m hoping to get top five, and get a PR," Macias stated.

The Hornets were sixth overall with 162 points.

Henry Whitney (18:23.8) was 18th, Ethan Geneski (20:32.1) came in 50th, Lane Cozby (21:03.9) was 57th, and Jack Hammerton (22:51) rounded out the top five in 75th.

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