Fairchild, in particular, had long odds as at this point last month she was recuperating from an appendectomy. After two weeks off, and two weeks of running, she was the last state qualifier in the Class AA girls’ race, taking 19th in 20:55.8.

“It’s absolutely crazy,” Fairchild said. “Two weeks back running, and then running, it was just crazy today.”

Fairchild started off slow, but then slowly made her way towards the top 20.

“I knew my coaches were yelling out places, and that I just needed to keep going, cutting off runners one by one,” explained Fairchild. “So my goal was to be with (CV’s) Natalie (Yonker), but I was not close with her. I had it in my brain that I wasn’t going to make it because I could see the giant group ahead of me, and it just looked so far away.”

Her season came down to a foot race with Shamokin’s Alexis Bressi (20:56.6), whom she beat out in the last 10 meters.

“That last 800 meters I could just see them slowing down,” said Fairchild. “I took my shot and went. I knew that I needed to beat that girl in front of me, and I sprinted the last 150 meters. I’ve never sprinted like that before at the end of a race, and she gave up the last 10 meters. I’ve never felt like that before.”

Now she’ll be returning back to states, this time in the Class AA race.

“It’s just crazy, there are no words,” Fairchild remarked.

NPM (227 places) was ninth overall. 

After Fairchild Kendelle Holleran (23:59.7) took 50th, Nora Furry (24:30.3) was 59th, Moira Wheeler (24:39.3) finished 63rd and Alivia Liswoski (24:47.6) rounded things out in 64th.

Knefley (16:58.1) was on the outside looking in coming into the boys’ Class AA race but was steady throughout, finishing 14th to punch his ticket back to states.

“That felt really good,” he said. “I’ve been struggling for the past couple of weeks, but I’m very happy with my performance.”

His goal was to get out into one of the top groups and just hang.

“I wanted to pick it up that last mile, and really pushed hard,” he said. “I knew I was close, so I really pushed the hardest I could.”

He was the ninth out of 10 individual qualifiers.

“I was surprised, I didn’t realize how far up I went,” Knefley said. 

NPM took 12th with 307 places.

Cedric Miller (19:01.4) was 60th, Braden Vanloon (19:44.8) took 75th, Isaiah Vanloon (20:45.5) was 91st, and Luke Tice (23:11.7) rounded things out in 114th.

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