Both Northwestern cross country teams took second place at last week’s Colonial League Championships, held at Bicentennial Park in East Allen Township.

The Tiger boys team came just a few points shy of the title as it was edged by Southern Lehigh 51-55.

The Northwestern girls team finished further behind the Spartans, 31-78, and well ahead of third-place Wilson (107).

“I knew it was going to be a battle with those two,” said Tiger head coach Chris Stitzel. “Our guys were ready. We haven’t won a league title since 1990 and that was the only league title they had here.”

Stitzel said his girls team just didn’t have the firepower to compete with a Southern Lehigh team that had five runners finish in the top 10 overall.

“Hopefully in the next year or two we’ll get the firepower,” he said. “We’re good, but Southern Lehigh didn’t lose anybody from last year.”

In the boys race, the Tigers were led by Sam Bower’s fourth-place finish. He ran the race in a time of 16:34.51.

“I think I ran great,” Bower said. “My goal was top five, and I completed that so I’m really happy with how I did.”

Behind Bower were teammates Matt Santana (sixth), Cole Chukoskie (seventh), Nate Vincent (14th) and Joe Chukoskie (25th) to round out the top five.

In the girls race, the Tigers were led by Angelina Klein’s fifth-place finish, followed by teammates Emily Fagan (15th), Maci Fisher (18th), Kailyn Jones (20th) and Faith Yost (25th).

Palmerton’s Natalie Mosier won the girls individual title in a time of 19:36.24, five seconds ahead of second-place finisher Maura Lenhard of Southern Lehigh.

Thomas Sigo (Palisades) won the boys race in 15:52.15. Saucon Valley’s Matthew Chaikwosky was not far behind in second place at 15:53.65

Stitzel was pleased with the Tigers performance at the meet. He was also happy a season that was in question just two months ago reached the postseason without any major problems.

“We got to the point where we can have a championship,” he said. “I’m just glad we were able to get this far. If we can get one more week and at least get districts in. All summer they’ve been training for this time of year. The guys got their feet wet going to states last year. Especially after losing track season, they were champing at the bit to get this season in. And it showed the way they trained and put the miles in.”

BOYS

Team scores and legend

1. Southern Lehigh (SL) 51, 2. Northwestern Lehigh (NW) 55, 3. Bangor (B) 105, 4. Palisades (Pali) 122, 5. Palmerton (Palm) 144, 6. Moravian Academy (MA) 164, 7. Wilson (W) 173, 8. Saucon Valley (SV) 175, 9. Pen Argyl (PA) 232, 10. Catasauqua (C) 284, 11. Salisbury (S) 293,

Top 10 Individuals

1. Thomas Smigo (Pali) 15:52.15, 2. Matthew Chaikowsky (SV) 15:53.65, 3. Alexander Kane (SL) 16:08.44, 4. Sam Bower (NW) 16:34.51, 5. Dominik Lisicky (SL) 16:37.79, 6. Matt Santana (NW) 16:49.78, 7. Cole Chukoskie (NW) 16:56.23, 8. Joshua Deremer (PA) 17:03.78, 9. Cameron Stout (B) 17:14.46, 10. Mitchell Campbell (Pali) 17:16.97, 14. Nate Vincent (NW) 17:26.66, 26. RJ Zack (NW) 18:12.82, 27. Will Gruen (NW) 18:13.77, 25. Joe Chukoskie (NW) 18:39.81, 38. Ethan Kozlowski (NW) 18:46.6, 51. Zach Santana (NW) 19:44.25.

GIRLS

Team scores and legend

1. Southern Lehigh (SL) 31, 2. Northwestern Lehigh (NW) 78, 3. Wilson (W) 107, 4. Palisades (Pali) 120, 5. Saucon Valley (SV) 122, 6. Catasauqua (C) 141, 7. Moravian Academy (MA) 177, 8. Bangor (B) 198, 9. Palmerton (P) 210.

Top 10 individual s

1. Natalie Mosier (Palm) 19:36.24, 2. Maura Lenhard (SL) 19:41.69, 3. Alyssa Errico (W) 19:50.46, 4. Lauren Meinhold (SL) 20:01.99, 5. Angelina Klein (NW) 20:05.36, 6. Emma Szydlow (SV) 20:08.3, 7. Annefloor Fooij (SL) 20:15.78, 8. Alaina Patel (Pali) 20:17.36, 9. Sara Reguera (Pali) 20:19.14, 10. Ashley Meinhold (SL) 20:20.74, 15. Emily Fagan (NW) 21:05.28, 18. Maci Fisher (NW) 21:13.61, 20. Kailyn Jones (NW) 21:25.65, 25. Faith Yost (NW) 21:44.39, 28. Molly McGorry (NW) 21:49.53, 35. Alexis Vannera (NW) 23:33.12, 44. Emma Rutkowski (NW) 24:23.71, 50. Zoe Manbeck (NW) 25:14.87.