Following Tuesday's meet at Palmerton High School, the fifth of the Colonial League season, one regular season cross country meet remains for each of the league's teams before the postseason stretch begins in mid-October.

The Salisbury cross country teams are using the final meets of the season, including Saturday's Paul Short Run at Lehigh University, to polish their fundamentals in hopes of peaking at the right time.

And across the board, the Salisbury boys and girls teams are cutting seconds off their times with the Colonial League meet just a mere two weeks away.

"We try and peak at the right time," head coach Doug Hensinger said. "We're starting to push a little bit more right now because we're a few weeks away until we get to leagues and then districts."

The Colonial League Cross Country Meet is scheduled for October 15 at DeSales University.

The boys, who are 8-10 in the Colonial League in the first four meets, have a familiar face at the top of the pack. Kyle Gonoude has been the Falcons' leader for four years, and he's been among the league leaders all season.

During last Tuesday's home meet, Gonoude earned his third first-place finish of the season. He ran a 16:07 on the Falcons' course, his best time of the season by over 46 seconds.

After battling lingering injuries from last season, all signs are positive for the senior as he prepares for another strong run in leagues and districts.

"So far, so good," Hensinger said. "We don't mention it. We don't bring it up. For the most part, if he was hurt, he probably wouldn't tell me. He's moving along."

Greg Fry and Joseph Fainor have been consistent threats to back up Gonoude all season. Fry (17:35) and Fainor (17:48) also ran their best times of the season a week ago and finished in 12th and 15th place, respectively.

"They are running well," Hensinger said. "They're gaining ground. You run that first meet, and you don't know what to expect. It's good we're running with Southern Lehigh, and there are a couple of kids they can key on there.

"Joseph has been right up there with Greg, too. That's huge. He has really improved a lot. They've all improved, but he has made a big jump."

Kelly Gonoude has been the leading runner on a girls' team that is also 8-10 on the season after going 3-3 at last week's home meet. The girls picked up wins over Catasauqua, Moravian Academy and Palisades.

Gonoude's second-place finish and time of 16:07 were both top marks through four races. She finished 42 seconds behind Southern Lehigh's Meseret Hart for first, and has finished in the top 10 in each meet thus far.

"We're just moving her along," Hensinger said. "We're trying to get everybody peaked come leagues and districts."

Sydney Utesch (19th place in 22:22 in last week's meet) and Holly Szita generally round out the Falcons' other top runners.

"They come in as a group, and they are running together," Hensinger said. "We have a few new people because they came up from the middle school last year. Holly Szita has been a good surprise this year."

Results from Tuesday's meet at Palmerton were not available at time of press. The Falcons close the regular season Tuesday, Oct. 7, at Catasauqua.