Freedom’s boys cross country team hosted their tri-meet season opener and came out with a 2-1 record on Sept. 12.

The Patriots topped Whitehall, 15-45, Allentown Central Catholic, 28-29, and lost to Emmaus in a close contest, 26-31.

“Overall, I was pleased with how we ran today,” said Freedom coach Bob Thear. “I was hoping we’d be 2-1 on both sides, and we were only five points behind Emmaus, so we ran really well.”

Freedom’s Dylan Boyle won top honors (16:52) over 84 other harriers that also included runners from Bethlehem Catholic and Liberty.

“I was just feeling it today. It was just one of those days,” Boyle said. “Connor (Fisher, Emmaus) came in front a little for the first mile, and he and I were sticking it out together, and then I made my move on the hills, and went on from there. I wasn’t really going for a time today. It’s a hotter day and harder to get lower times, but I placed pretty good.”

Fisher came in second (17:02), and Central’s Duke Ebert was third (17:10), but the surprise of the meet was Freedom freshman Brayden Boyle, who placed fourth (18:37).

“Brayden Boyle, I didn’t expect him to get that far,” said Coach Thear. “That was the one (that stood out).” Becahi’s Mikhai Britt placed fifth (18:48) after four months of rehabilitating an injury.

“I’ve been on my own routine because at the end of last track season, I fractured my hip. It’s been a tough process, but I’ve been doing just a little bit of extra on the side,” Britt said. “This was my first race back, so I’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time.”

Britt combined running, along with riding a stationary bike for hours at a time, all with the hope of being ready for the first Eastern Pennsylvania Conference meet of the season.

“I knew that Dylan, Duke, Connor were gonna be up there, and I knew they had a lot of fitness coming in, so I figured I’d start off a little bit slow,” said Britt. “I let a lot of people go ahead of me, but I knew that I would have the mental toughness to push ahead of those guys. I did pass about 10 to 15 dudes today, so I’m proud of that. You know, I did what I could do, and from here on, I’m gonna push as hard as I can.”

Freedom’s Ryan Haas placed ninth (18:52), and teammate Ryan Parkin was 13th (18:59).

Liberty’s Joshua Cazares placed 16th (19:16), Becahi’s Timothy Krauss was 18th (19:18), Liberty’s Ethan Caine was 19th (19:21), and Liberty’s Dylan Griffith was 25th (19:56).

Liberty was a 16-47 winner over Whitehall, and lost to Central, 15-46, and Emmaus, 15-47.

Becahi also defeated Whitehall, 18-37, and lost to Central, 19-42, and Emmaus, 19-43.

“I was excited because it’s the first dual meet, we get to run with the whole team, team energy was high, and it was fun,” said Boyle. “A lot of the freshmen, I think they were all pumped up too, and one of the freshmen, my brother Brayden placed fourth today, so I think that’s pretty good for him.”