Sophia Cornell understands the expectations that come with running at Northwestern.

The Tigers have set a standard both in the Colonial League and throughout District 11, one their runners aim to maintain.

And Cornell is no exception.

Coming off the third district title for the girls program in five years and another trip to the state meet, Cornell set her sights on both continued success and improvement this past fall.

With last season’s top runner Angelina Klein moving on to DeSales University after graduation, Cornell keyed in on being a leader on and off the course to make sure that happened.

Cornell showcased tremendous growth in her junior season - one that ended with a trip to states - while also helping Northwestern place in the top five in the team standings at both leagues and districts.

“I knew coming in that we lost Angelina and there were going to be big shoes to fill,” said Cornell. “I don’t know. It was just like a little switch that flipped kind of. I knew I had to step up. I worked hard, I pushed myself, and having the team there to support me and push me also definitely helped. But this year was definitely a season that was not like any other season so far.”

Cornell’s commitment led to individual and team success. Her efforts now also include Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Female Cross Country Athlete of the Year honors, an accomplishment Klein achieved in 2022.

“We’ve had a lot of really good people,” Cornell said of those that have come through the Tigers’ program. “Ally Costa, she graduated a couple of years back, she really helped me. Angelina Klein has 100% been a huge influence for me, and just watching her compete and succeed really pushed me.”

And it showed in Cornell’s results.

The junior was the team’s top runner throughout the season, and posted results of second, fourth, seventh, seventh, second and fifth during a regular season in which Northwestern posted a 19-5 record for the second consecutive year.

“She was our No. 2, and she knew when Angelina graduated that it was going to be her turn,” Tigers coach Chris Stitzel said of Cornell. “I think she rose to the occasion this year. Every workout she worked hard, and I think she knew coming into the season it was going to be her time and be our top girl.

“She had a great year for us, and getting that league medal, district medal and going to states, that was her goal. We were hoping to get back as a team, but she definitely wanted to make it individually if we didn’t make it, and she did that. Medaling at leagues and districts really boosted her confidence, and helped her reach that next level.”

At leagues, Cornell was ninth overall with a time of 21:01.60 to help Northwestern finish fourth as a team. As a sophomore, Cornell placed 20th at the league meet with a time of 21:56.34.

The following week at districts, Cornell finished seventh with a time of 21:37 as the Tigers ran to a fourth-place finish in the team standings.

“I did not expect to do as good at leagues as I did,” said Cornell. “That was a new thing for me. I had placed pretty far back the year before, and it was just kind of a new thing for me to place at leagues, and then place at districts and then go on to states. All three were just really awesome.”

Cornell’s improvement continued at states, where she finished with a time of 22:22 after running a 23:48 her sophomore year.

And while she didn’t return to states with a full team around her, Cornell cherished having teammate and senior Haley DuBois with her in Hershey.

“Even though our team didn’t make it to states, just the way that we ran this year, as a pack, and just how closely knit we were, that was something to be proud of on its own,” said Cornell. “As far as we got, I think our team has a lot to be proud of, even though we didn’t go as far as we wanted to.

“It was nice to have somebody with me, and kind of going through that experience together. It was just awesome. It was super special, and it was a great experience.”

Cornell’s outlook has been a shining example for her teammates to follow. It’s one that sets the tone and showcases why Northwestern is a perennial power, with Stitzel achieving over 900 career victories between the boys and girls teams in his 25th year this past fall.

The Tigers don’t worry about letdowns.

“Sophia saw how hard Angelina worked, and I think she said, ‘I want to be just like that,’” said Stitzel, who is 531-81 with the girls at Northwestern. “She took Angelina’s advice, and it just carried over into this year and she just had a phenomenal year for us. She stayed healthy, and having that confidence in herself really helped. And she had other girls working hard with her, getting those extra workouts in and putting the extra work in.”

They have leaders like Cornell and those that have come before her who step up, and make sure the program is always moving forward.