The Northampton Invitational cross country race is, according to Emmaus coach Kami Reinhard, unique.

“Every single one of our athletes who is capable of racing is given the opportunity to compete at a high-level meet against strong competition,” Reinhard said. “Some invitationals limit entries, so this one especially is beneficial for our team.”

Emmaus runners participated in the Sept. 4 event, their first race of the 2021 campaign. On the girls side, the Lady Hornets earned third place among Class 3A teams and third overall among all classes. Five of the Hornets’ top seven started the season with lifetime best cross country 5K times.

The Emmaus boys took first place as a team in Class 3A and second overall. Emmaus edged Father Judge by just four points, 114-118, for the Class 3A title. Frankfort cruised to the boys overall title with 49 points to the Hornets’ 183 in the overall team standings.

The meet was a successful start to the season for both Emmaus teams.

“Both teams could not have performed any better and we are thrilled how things came together,” said Reinhard. “It was perfect racing conditions, so we are grateful our athletes took full advantage of the opportunity. I was truly touched by the value of teamwork by both the girls and boys teams and how our team leaders who really pulled things together in the moment.”

“What more could you expect?” Reinhard said of the girls’ performance. “We were hoping for a fourth-place trophy in our rebuilding year, so we were thrilled to hear the girls earned third. It was quite a feat.”

The boys’ performance was incredible.

“When the coaching staff told them they had won, they didn’t believe it,” Reinhard said.

Some of the top girls finishers included Hailey Reinhard, who took second place overall with a lifetime best of 19:03.

“She is setting the bar for the rest of the girls,” said the coach.

Isabella Lees ran a 20:06 for 12th place overall. Coach Reinhard praised her “as an athlete who is extremely intelligent and races very smart.”

Teammate Payton Campbell, a freshman, finished 24th overall in 20:37 and “really dug in deep to finish that last mile in the top 25 overall.”

On the boys side, Ethan Strzempek finished in 15th place overall in 16:55, which was also his lifetime best 5K time.

“He has been training really hard, but also is having some fun bringing the boys teams together,” Reinhard said.

Conor Fisher (24th overall) started his high school career on a high note, finishing the race as the only ninth grader to finish in the top 30.

“He didn’t believe his finish at first and he is a very humble athlete,” said the coach.

Runner Sam Dalton (46th overall) was another Hornet who had a fine day, running 17:36, just four seconds off a personal 17:32 best.

“Sam has incredible potential and was the one who pulled along his other two teammates to the finish together to earn the team win,” said Reinhard.

The rest of the Hornets boys team’s top five at Northampton included Oscar Felegy (50th overall) and Matthew Norton (53rd overall).

Rounding the Emmaus girls team’s top five were Sophia Kovalski (40th overall) and Nicole Nasal (44th overall).