Kosek (18:21.2) took home second in the Class AA race, just behind Lewisburg’s Baylee Espinosa (18:17.2), hanging with her the entire duration of the race.

“Baylee is a really good runner and I really look up to her,” Kosek said. “Towards the end of the season, when we were comparing times, it was like, maybe I could try to stay with her, so we really were just going to go out and see what I could do.”

She did plenty, keeping about a 10-12 meter chase on Espinosa before closing on her shoulder with a little under 600 meters to go. Espinosa, though, had enough left in the tank to pull away the final 100 meters.

“She was starting to get away from me after the mile mark, and I was like, ‘OK, just try to hold that gap,’” explained Kosek. “Then, as I started closing the gap, I was like, ‘Oh no, now I have to really try to go for her because I was getting closer.’ I was definitely surprising myself that second mile and towards the end.”

This gives Kosek plenty of confidence going into the PIAA Championships next week.

“It’s really exciting, knowing that she’s the state champion,” said Kosek. “That I’m capable of being that closer to her, it was really exciting. I’m looking forward to next Saturday.”

Wellsboro took 10th as a team with 232 places.

Sophia Yoder (24:09.3) took 54th, Molly Tice (24:28.5) was 58th, Anja Przbycien (25:30.8) finished 71st, and Karah Blackwell (26:22.9) rounded things out in 75th.

Macias (16:48.1) was 12th overall in the Class AA boys’ race, and was surprised by his state berth since he was on the outside looking in coming into Thursday.

“I wanted to get as close to the front as I could,” Macias said about his start.

He really enjoyed the packed field.

“It was different, but it was fun,” said the junior.

The Hornets were 11th as a team with 285 places.

Henry Whitney (17:52.3) took 30th, Ethan Geneski (20:15.1) finished 83rd, Lane Coxby (21:01.8) took 94th, and Jack Hammerton (22:31.1) rounded things out in 112th.

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