Kosek, who placed third in the 3200m last year (11:19.83) and qualified for the State meet, placed second Thursday (10:59.38) .. behind winner Baylee Espinosa from Lewisburg (10:51.62) and ahead of last year’s District champ, Gracelyn Laudermilch from Northeast Bradford (11:09.90). 

“It’s super exciting,” Kosek exclaimed following the two-mile race, “I’ve been thinking about it since this time last year.”

Kosek, Espinosa and Laudermilch broke away from the pack early, with Kosek taking the lead spot.

“I had Nationals Qualifying Standard in my mind,” said Kosek, “and I’ve competed against Gracelyn and Baylee quite often, so I knew chances were they were going to try and pace off of me. I was hoping they would go out ahead of me and I could use them, but it was fine. I expected it.”

Once Espinosa and Laudermilch made their move and passed Kosek, the sophomore focused on keeping her same tempo and on making her own move, which led to her runner-up finish.

“It’s a lot easier to pick it up at the end if you’re trying to catch someone," Kosek said, “rather than just for a time.”

Kosek has hopes of a State medal in the 3200m, but has other business to tend to first.

“First, I have big goals in the 1600 on Saturday,” says Kosek, “then I can focus on States .. getting good sleep all week and being ready.”

Hoprich, last year’s District champ in both the 100m and 200m dashes, won her preliminary heat Thursday with a District 4 record 11.98. The previous mark of 12.11 was set in 2017 by Athens’ Breana Gambrell, who went on to run at Penn State and is a member of the PA Track & Field Hall of Fame. 

“It feels really, really good,” Hoprich says of her record-breaking performance, “I’ve been working really hard .. and this is the first nice day in awhile, so I felt good. I’ve been picturing this race every night before I sleep .. I was ready.”

The girls 100m dash final is scheduled for Saturday morning at 10:20 a.m. 

Wellsboro also had a pair of long jumpers reach the podium Thursday as Annie Gehman placed eighth (15-03.00) for the girls and Micaiah Fitch was eighth in the boys’ competition (20-04.00).

Also for the Hornets on Day 1, Micah Vickery finished 10th (16.36) in the 110m hurdles with David Seeling in 20th (17.05), Max Macias was 10th (10:12.05) in the 3200m with Henry Whitney finishing 13th (10:27.08), the boys’ 4x800m relay team (Macias, Whitney, Jude Cuneo and Ethan Geneski) was 12th (8:48.98) and Isla Twoey was 13th (14-02.50) in the girls’ long jump.

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