Liberty cross country newcomers, Katie Drabouski and Elizabeth McClarin took first and second place, respectively, in the Hurricanes’ Eastern Pennsylvania Conference opener on Sept. 10 at Parkland.

“It’s their first dual meet, so anything they did was going to be a bonus,” said Liberty coach Kevin Bush. “I was really proud of how they both ran, and this is just the beginning for them.”

Drabouski completed the race with a time of 21:21.67.

“I went out pretty fast. I wanted to stay in that first lead pack, and I didn’t want to get caught behind, but I also didn’t want to go out too fast, so Elizabeth and I stayed behind the girl in first and rode her until the end and then sped up,” Drabouski said. “After the hills, in the forest, coming up that last 800, I started to speed up, and then especially on the track, I gave it what I had. I would say when we broke off and went into the forest, the hills were extremely steep and it made coming back very difficult because we were on mile 2 1/2, and the hills were all uphill. It was definitely painful, but it felt really good after.”

McClarin finished five seconds behind with a time of 21:26.51.

“I think our general idea was to get with the top group, listen to what our coaches were saying, and not start to sprint in the beginning and take that lead,” McClarin said. “It kind of varied in the beginning, switching places to go around the turns. After the first mile, going up that uphill kind of felt like never- ending, but I knew I would be hitting the two-mile mark soon. I’m really proud, I’ve been having a lot of fun, I love my teammates and my coaches, so I’m really enjoying it.”

Emma Haas placed fifth in 23:27.09, and Lilah McClarin placed sixth in 23:57.62, both for the Hurricanes.

“The girls recommitted themselves this year to working hard in practice, a different attitude this year, which has really paid off,” said Coach Bush. “We told them it would be difficult, and then when we got here, it was even more challenging. They stepped up to the challenge, and we probably won’t see another course like this all year so everything they did paid off, and they were willing to embrace all the hill work we’ve done.”

Bethlehem Catholic’s Rio Stoudt placed ninth with a time of 24:12.50.

Freedom’s Amelia Holden came in 15th with a time of 24:50.94.

The Patriots ran without their top girls harrier, Anya Johns, who is injured.

“It was tough without Anya. She’s going to be out for a month,” said Freedom coach Bob Thear. “She’s our only senior, and we don’t have a big team, so there’s some inexperience on the girls side.”

Who would Coach Thear like to see picking up the pace for the Patriots?

“Everybody,” he said.

In girls team results, Freedom and Liberty defeated William Allen and Dieruff but lost to Parkland. The Hurricanes came close against Parkland with a score of 26-31.

Becahi also lost to Parkland with no score against William Allen and Dieruff.