Freedom’s girls cross country team kicked off their season opener with a 2-1 record after competing against Allentown Central Catholic, Whitehall, and Emmaus on Sept. 12 at Freedom.

“Central’s always a good litmus test for us because I feel like we’re a pretty even squad with them, and it showed,” said Freedom coach Bob Thear. “We beat the girls by five and the boys by one, so overall, I thought we ran well. Probably running here helped us because we know the course.”

The temperature was higher than expected for the 81 harriers that also included teams from Bethlehem Catholic and Liberty, but it was perfect running weather for Freedom’s Ava Fihlman who placed second overall (19:51).

“I was thinking I would be a little faster, but I do have a cold, so it definitely felt like that was as far as I could go today,” Fihlman said. “It was a hard race. I’m proud of how I did.”

Fihlman, Emmaus’s Madi McCartney, and Emmaus’s Payton Campbell ran side-by-side for a good part of the race.

“We stuck together for almost the entire race, and then around mile two, we split up a little bit,” said Fihlman. “Me and the girl in first (Campbell) were together for almost the entire backstretch along the tree line. Then when we had about a half mile to go, the girl in third (McCartney) took off.”

McCartney ended up the overall winner (19:42) and Campbell placed third (20:03).

Freedom’s Anya Johns came in fourth (20:22).

“I think I came out a little fast. I think I could’ve conserved some energy at first, but then once I was in it, I felt good,” Johns said. “I was by myself for most of it. I wanted to keep my other teammate, Ava, in my sight. I pretty much stayed consistent in fourth place.”

Also from Freedom, Amelia Holden placed 14th (23:04), and Taylor Vidumsky placed 24th (23:55).

In team scores, the Patriots topped Central, 26-31, and Whitehall, 19-36, and lost to Emmaus, 22-39.

Liberty’s girls defeated Whitehall, 15-46, and lost to Central, 24-32, and Emmaus, 15-50.

Emma Haas placed 16th (23:10), and Lilah McClarin placed 23rd (23:53), both for the Hurricanes.

Bethlehem Catholic’s girls edged Whitehall, 28-29, and lost to Central, 21-40, and Emmaus, 15-50.

Aliyah Brame came in 13th (22:58), and Remiah Rivera came in 22nd (23:52), both for the Golden Hawks.