When Lindsay Solderitch settled into the blocks for the 400 meters at the district championships last week, the senior was considering a certain number.

She had finished fourth the week prior at the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Track and Field Championships, and was looking to better her mark of 1:01.42.

So as she waited for the starter’s pistol, she thought about going under a minute.

Once she started to circle the oval. Solderitch was so focused on the race that she said she honestly couldn’t remember much of what happened. Her one distinct memory came about 100 meters from the finish line when she noticed two runners closing toward her.

That’s when her competitive drive really kicked in.

“There’s no way they’re going to beat me,” she said about her thoughts upon seeing them in her peripheral vision.

And they didn’t.

“I pulled out and got second,” she said.

She did just that, crossing the line in 59.46. That earned her second place and a trip to states at Shippensburg University this week.

That finish of 59.46 was where she envisions herself when the race was over. She had accomplished her goal, and that opened the door to a trip to states, something she had set her sights on leading up to the postseason.

“My goal was to break a minute and I did,” she said.

It was also a personal best. It was quite the setting to deliver her best time of her high school career, and she’ll now be rewarded with a state berth.

When she took the stand to receive her medal, she said she couldn’t stop smiling.

“It was a really good feeling,” said Solderitch. “I got my goal.”

Only the top two finishers qualify. The 400 was won by Nazareth’s Alexis Doherty. It will be Solderitch’s second trip to Shippensburg. She also went as part of the 4x100 relay team as a sophomore.

She’ll be accompanied by head coach Tyler Miller, assistant coach James Sebesta, and her good friend Mariele Patungan who runs the hurdle races for the Zephyrs.

Solderitch said that her goal at states is to try to run a sub-59.00. If she does that she’ll be close to the school record which stands at 58.5. She said that’s going to be her mindset when she arrives at states. She achieved her goal, and now she wants to see if she can enter the record books.

Solderitch said that she doesn’t have any superstitions, no prerace rituals, per se. All she does is apply Biofreeze to her legs and say a prayer. That will remain the same at states as she tries to establish that new mark.

The Zephyrs also had some other notable performances at the District XI 3A Track and Field Championships. Arizona Marakovits finished 5th in the pole vault with a 9-00 mark.

Additionally, Brielle Schrey was 10th in the javelin with a 107-00 toss. Patungan was 18th in the 300 hurdles, finishing in 51.18.

For the boys, their 4x800 relay team finished 16th as Jacob Busch, Sean Connolly, Peter Busch and Vinson Eggleston combined for a 9:05.25 mark.