Freedom’s Ava Fihlman and Liberty’s Maddie Mumma knew better than to let a city rivalry stand in the way of accomplishing what each set out to do at the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Cross Country Championship Meet where Fihlman placed fifth (19:57.10) and Mumma placed sixth (20:14.30) last Tuesday afternoon at DeSales University.

“I think we both knew we were going to try and pace each other, and I think when we stick together, we usually run better,” Fihlman said. “She pushes me up the hills, and I push her on the straightaways.”

Fihlman’s fifth-place finish was just as Freedom Coach Bob Thear predicted.

“He wanted me in fifth. He even predicts my times,” said Fihlman. “I was trying to stay in that area and then I was going to try and pick off people where I could, but I finished right where he said.”

Emmaus’s Hailey Reinhard was the EPC champion (18:58.80), and teammate Madelyn McCartney placed second (19:13.20). Parkland’s Lana Hurwitz was third (19:47.50), and Pocono Mountain West’s Kaya Meier came in fourth (19:56.10).

“I didn’t want to go with the West girl because I know she’s a little bit faster than me, so I was thinking I could try and catch her near mile three,” Fihlman said. “For mile two, basically the cornfield, I was just trying to go as fast as I could, and the last mile I would just hang on, and I actually did, but I think the pace for this race was set a little slower than it could have been, and it was windy. I do wish it went out a little faster, but I’m pretty satisfied. I’m pretty happy.”

Mumma was just as pleased with her own race.

“I’m happy with how I raced today,” she said. “I like this course. I actually like the second mile. It’s a bunch of hills, and I feel like the third mile is a lot more mental because you’re kind of running on your own. There’s not a lot of crowd back there. [Ava and I] were sticking together a lot during the race, and we passed some people together. Especially on the hills in the second mile, it really helped me to run faster with her.”

Mikailyn Matacavage placed 22nd (21:34.60), Kendall Terefinko came in 26th (21:36.80), and Emma Haas finished 31st (22:03.70), all from Liberty.

Aubrey Yeager placed 36th (22:24.10), and Amelia Holden came in 39th (22:36.10), both from Freedom.

Bethlehem Catholic’s Margaret Burke placed 48th (23:09.50).

Emmaus’s girls won the team championship out of 13 teams followed by Easton, Parkland, Liberty, Stroudsburg, Central, Nazareth, and Freedom.

The District XI Cross Country Championships are scheduled for this Wednesday afternoon at DeSales University where Fihlman and Mumma will vie for a repeat trip to states.

“I’m going to try and focus on the last mile with the cornfield because I think I took it a little too comfortable,” said Mumma, “and I feel like I could attack that more.”