The Emmaus girls cross country team added another trophy to its showcase this season as the Hornets followed East Penn Conference regular season and league meet titles with a District 11 championship.

Led by sophomore Mady McCartney, who won the girls individual title, Emmaus fought off a valiant effort from Easton to beat the second-place Rovers 43-46.

“Our team has worked really hard for leagues and districts,” said McCartney. “We’re always pushing each other. We’re always running together. We’re always motivating each other and I think we did a really good job this season. We’re all like one big family.”

McCartney, who won the EPC individual title a week before the district championships, ran the DeSales University course in 19:13.53 last Wednesday to beat Freedom’s Avaline Fihlman (19:42.37) by nearly half a minute.

“I was in the lead up until the first mile then Kaya from Pocono Mountain took the lead for a little bit but then I eventually caught her,” said McCartney.

Pocono Mountain Wests’ Kaya Meler (19:51.84) dropped to third place with the Hornets’ Payton Campbell (20:22.33) fourth and Parkland’s Lana Hurwitz (20:29.18) fifth.

Emmaus seniors Sophia Kovalski and Brooke Miller finished 14th and 15th overall, respectively, with junior Addison Johnson 17th to round out the top Hornets’ top five. Those finishes were key to the team’s success as Easton runners were right on their heels trying to keep Emmaus from earning its fifth consecutive girls district title. Junior Isaballa Scarlatta (26th) and senior Addison Kleinle (28th) were also part of the Emmaus girls district team.

Campbell, who finished fifth at the league meet, moved up one place at districts.

“It was a really hot day,” Campbell said. “I think everyone struggled with the heat. I was really happy with the way I performed and my finish especially.”

McCartney and Campbell both earned medals for their top-10 individual performances at districts, but the medals and trophy for the team win is what they were striving for most.

“The team absolutely, a thousand percent,” said Campbell, who had a pair of Easton runners two places behind her at the finish. “It was close. The end of my race it was like ‘OK, this is for the team.’ I think it’s good when the district is faster. It pushes you to go faster.”

The Hornets earned a right to run in this weekend’s state championship meet in Hershey. Four of the team’s runners who competed at the district meet were part of last year’s state team and are excited to return.

“I think it helps a ton at least knowing the course because it’s a lot of hills,” said Campbell, a sophomore. “The whole thing is hills. It kind of just rolls. I think having experience with the course helps because you know which areas are going to be harder to push and where you get that relief.

“Expectation-wise, our main goal is to have fun. We made it. We put in all the work. Whatever comes now is just for fun.”

McCartney finished 55th at states last year and was one of three Hornets to finish in the top 100, along with graduate Hailey Reinhard (20th) and Johnson (80th).

“I definitely think it’s going to help after being there last year,” McCartney said. “I got the experience last year so I know what it’s going to be like this year.

“I can feel a little bit more prepared course wise after seeing the course last year and running on it.”