Linsdey Bray has been on the Emmaus cross country team all four years of high school. She always wanted to run in the PIAA State Championship meet, but was unable to qualify her first three years.

Last Wednesday's District 11 Championship Meet was her last chance to earn a trip to states, and the senior came through.

Bray ran the race in 20 minutes and 21 seconds to finish in eighth place and earn a spot at this weekend's state meet in Hershey.

"I'm very excited," said Bray "I figured it was going to be my last race or one of my last races, so I just wanted to give it my all."

Soon after the race, when the team points were tallied, Bray's final district meet got even better as she learned the Lady Hornets had finished in second place in team standings, which meant they qualified for states as a team and would all make the trip.

"I'm so proud of the entire team," said junior Hannah Brosky, who finished one place in front of Bray in seventh. "The whole season we've had each other's backs.

"Our captain [Bray] is graduating this year and she ran an impeccable race. I'm so proud of her for finishing off her season strong. I'm really excited for states. It's the last race of the season and the hardest course as well."

The rest of Emmaus top five included junior Jackie Carney (25th place, 21:30), sophomore Kristen Bray (28th, 21:34) and sophomore Sophie Trowbridge (44th, 22:15). Senior Melanie Hanover (47th, 22:23) and Cassidy Leight (104th, 25:58) were also part of the team at districts, which were held at Bethlehem Municipal Golf Course.

The Lady Hornets finished second as a team with 111 points. They edged Easton (112) by one point and trailed first-place Parkland (68) by 43.

Brosky and Bray ran 1-2 for the team all season and Bray likes to pace herself off Brosky. She did a superb job of staying behind her teammate at districts.

"She (Brosky) goes out really well and stays consistent the entire race," said Bray. "I did start a little fast. I like to start fast because otherwise I'll get caught behind. A couple girls passed me in the middle, but toward the end I was able to catch back up to them."

Brosky, who finished ninth in the 800 meters at last year's PIAA state track meet, also went out fast in the district cross country race. She was in a pack with about five runners all competing for a top-three or top-five spot, but she fell a little behind that group as it neared the finish.

"I strayed away from it a little bit," said Brosky, who ran the race in 20:09. "But the top 10 go to states no matter what place you're at. I was hoping to go as a team. My goal was just to run as hard as I could."

Brosky looks forward to competing with the state's best Saturday morning in Hershey.

"I've always wanted to go to states," said Brosky. "It's the peak of the peak. It's a great learning experience. I can take that to track as well."

Emmaus boys team placed 11th at districts, led by Kyle Vierling's 39th-place showing. Vierling ran the race in 18:13. Other Emmaus boys running at districts were Luke Pukanecz (47th, 18:34), Terence Cawley (51st, 18:40), Joey Decaprio (61st, 18:54), Matt Kovalchick (68th, 19:03), Chris Neely (79th, 19:20), Neil Khanna (97th, 20:00).