After two seasons of just missing out on qualifying for states as a team, this year’s Northwestern’s girls cross country team is poised to get back to Hershey.

The Tigers return six experienced varsity runners, including the team’s top runner the past four years in senior Angelina Klein. Head coach Chris Stitzel likes his team’s chances of taking one of the top two places in districts to earn the trip to states.

“I’m thinking we can sneak into the top two spots,” said Stitzel. “I have the whole team back. The freshmen that ran varsity [last season]got experience.”

Klein, who finished fourth in last year’s Colonial League Championships and placed 17th at districts, will be a league title contender in her final season of high school cross country.

“She looks good this year,” said Stitzel. “She trained a little extra this summer. We’re hoping to make it as a team but she should definitely make it individually.”

Klein missed a trip to states by one place last year.

Senior Maci Fisher returns to the line up after placing in the top 30 in both leagues and districts last season. Four sophomores who gained experience last season also return in Sophia Cornell, Kellcey Pedron, Devon Heinley and Sophia Penny. Cornell finished in the top 20 at districts and top 25 at leagues last year, while Pedron was top 30 at both postseason meets.

Several other new and returning runners could also find their way into the team’s line up throughout the season. The rest of the roster includes seniors Kelly Maloney and Sheyenne Muse; juniors Emily Chukoskie, Haley DuBois and Kathryn Griffith; sophomores Leia Glassberg and Katherine Gruen; and freshman Ava Smedstad.

The Tigers went 20-4 in Colonial League meets last fall before finishing third at the league championship meet and fourth at districts.

Northwestern graduated just one member of last year’s top five in Molly McGorry, along with four other seniors from last year’s roster.

Stitzel said Southern Lehigh and Notre Dame (Green Pond) will likely be their top competition in the league this year. Two of the teams that finished ahead of Northwestern at districts, Blue Mountain and North Schuylkill, graduated some of their top runners while the Tigers return most of theirs. The Eagles saw two-time state champ Olivia Haas graduate in spring.

Northwestern opened the season at the Moravian Invitational and will compete in the DeSales Invitational on Sept. 10 and the PIAA Foundation Invitational on Sept. 24.

The league championship meet is slated for Oct. 19 at DeSales. Districts will be a week later, Oct. 26 in Center Valley.