Liberty senior Emrick Leshko and Freedom sophomore Dylan Boyle used the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Cross Country Championship Meet as an opportunity to get a firm grip on the District XI meet which is scheduled for this Wednesday when they will attempt to clinch a spot for states.

“I know what I gotta do now,” said Leshko, who came in third (16:49.90) at the EPC meet last Tuesday at DeSales University. “I’ve got to stay close to that top group because I’m a sprinter doing this, so as long as I hang close to them, I think I should get it, but they ran a really great race, to be honest.”

The top group included EPC champion Nazareth’s Giovanni Mastromonaco (16:37.20), second place finisher, Parkland’s Paul Abeln (16:39.50), fourth place finisher, Parkland’s Ethan Willard (16:51.80), fifth place finisher, East Stroudsburg South’s Liam Davis (16:59.30), and Boyle (16:59.30), who got out stepped by Davis at the finish for sixth place.

“He and I were just going at it in the end, and the Naz kid too, but he dropped off,” Boyle said. “We were just pushing each other back and forth. The top five were in a group the whole time, we were all going good together, and everybody just went off at the end coming out of the cornfield.”

Leshko was able to catch Willard but decided that was enough, all things considered.

“I saw the other two guys a little too far ahead, and I’m thinking, even if I kick really hard for this, I don’t know if I can win, so just live to fight another day,” Leshko said.

The boys race had 137 harriers from 15 schools competing for top spots and personal records.

“I love this course. I really do,” said Boyle. “Honestly, and it’s kind of crazy, I like the hills in the back in the middle part, and then once you get out of the hills, it’s great because you have the whole cornfield, and I come back in that part. I was pretty happy. I feel like I could do better in districts, and this is a good starting point.”

Freedom senior Joe Bauer came in 22nd (17:57.60), Liberty senior Cole Ruhf was 25th (18:06.50), and Bethlehem Catholic sophomore Mekhi Britt was 29th (18:11.20).

Parkland won the boys team championship, and Nazareth was second, followed by Emmaus, Easton, Liberty, and Freedom.

Hurricanes who ran sub 20:00 were Owen Reilly (18:22.60), Jack Huie (18:36.50), Luke Daignault (18:47.70), Owen Haas (18:55.90), and Ryan Aburto (19:00.20).

Patriots under 20:00 were Ryan Parkin (18:46.50) and Ryan Haas (19:09.20).