HERSHEY — The PIAA Cross Country Championships are more than just the culmination of a season.

They are a celebration of the days, weeks, months — and sometimes years — it takes to get to there.

Never a right and always a privilege, the chance to compete at the state meet in Hershey is always a unique opportunity.

And that was especially true Saturday as 16 area runners hit the Parkview Cross Country Course to cap another remarkable season.

“It’s a happy and sad moment,” said Tamaqua senior Anthony Marchetti, who enjoyed the experience of competing with teammate Levi Kunkel one final time. “I’m happy that the moment’s happened, but sad that it’s over. We’ve been together since seventh grade as a team, and now it’s over. But it’s a great feeling we got to be together and accomplish what we did as a team.”

That mindset and reflective perspective was prevalent throughout the day Saturday.

Regardless of results, the race — and everything that surrounded it — was a reward for countless hours spent training away from the spotlight.

“It was not my best race, but it’s a good day, good weather, and I’m just happy to be here,” said Northwestern’s Sophia Cornell. “As a senior, with all these people, I was running with a lot of people I know, a lot of people I’m friends with. It was just nice. I can’t complain.

“The experience (of being here before) helped a lot. This was the first year I wasn’t nervous really at all. Sophomore year, we came as a team, and that was crazy. Last year, I was here with Haley (DuBois), who was a senior. And that was different, to not have a team. And this year, it was like, ‘Just go out and run. Go out and enjoy it.’”

Palmerton junior Connor Hibell has been tremendous throughout the fall, dominating Colonial League regular season meets and going back-to-back as league meet and District 11 champion.

Hibell recorded his second straight top-50 finish at states on Saturday, placing 41st in the Class 2A race with a time of 17:18.

After a 32nd-place result last season, Hibell had his sights set on the top-25 and his first state medal, something he went after in a fast first mile.

“I believe it was around 4:45ish,” Hibell said of his first mile. “I hadn’t gone out quite that fast (in a meet) during the season, maybe around 5:00 (when I go out fast). I really wanted to get a top-25 finish, but I realized once we got to the second mile that was going to be difficult.”

Hibell has never backed down from a challenge, something that won’t change anytime soon. And something he credits to the help he receives on and off the course.

“Definitely the people that support me,” he said. “My parents, my stepmom, my grandfather, my teammates, my coaches. Other parents are really nice. That usually helps me through a lot.

“I definitely want to medal (at states) my senior year. That would be nice.”

Lehighton’s Elijah Pagotto improved on his 79th-place finish from a year ago in the Class 2A race with a 68th-place result this year in 17:39.

“The experience definitely helps, especially with the start. The start is crazy,” Pagotto said of the 2A boys race, which had 249 finishers. “I know last year I got caught in a group of people and I couldn’t really move; it was hard to get around others. This year, I took off faster, a lot faster than I usually do, but just to get ahead of the pack.

“I feel like this year I’ve grown as a runner. I know I’ve been a lot more calm before races. My freshman year I would get a lot more nervous before races, the same with last year. This year I found myself a lot more relaxed beforehand, because I know this is what I do, I’ve done it so many times before.”

Marchetti also improved his place and time from a year ago in the 2A boys race. After finishing 139th in 18:50 a year ago, Marchetti was 104th in 17:59 Saturday.

Lehighton’s Brielle Frable returned to cross country competition this season for the first time since participating in the sport in eighth grade. She had a stellar senior season, one that also included serving as captain of the field hockey team.

Frable finished 110th with a time of 21:41.

“I’m overall very happy,” said Frable. “I feel like I came out and did what I had to do. I ran my race. I was a little scared; I’ve never been here. I’m so blessed to be here. I came out with the pack. I waited, I was patient, and I finished really strong. I finished with my fastest 400 split ever.

“I didn’t PR today, but I’m definitely very happy with it. I just wanted to run my race. I’m really happy with my finish. I picked up about 15 places.”

Jim Thorpe’s Stacy Bos took in the experience of her first trip to Hershey, one she hopes to repeat in the coming years.

“Districts was definitely a tough race. I put my all into that; that’s what got me here, I trained for every second of it, and I’m enjoying every second of it,” said Bos, who finished 154th in the 2A race in 22:18. “This season was just amazing. I have the best team ever. They’re all just so supportive of me.

“By my junior year, I definitely want to break 21:00. Just throughout the season I want to break that time, and then senior year I just want to have the best year.”

That was how Weatherly’s Sebastian Williams approached his senior season, one that ended with a 106th-place finish and a time of 18:45 in the Class 1A race Saturday, in his first trip to states.

“I’m just happy with how I was able to push myself,” said Williams. “It was a hard course. And being able to compete the way I did, I’m happy with.”

For those seniors or underclassmen, Saturday closed a chapter in their careers. But it certainly wasn’t the end of the story.

“I’m hoping to run in college. It is kind of weird to think this isn’t the end of my running career, it’s just the end of cross country at Northwestern,” said Cornell. “Maybe that will feel different after track. But right now I’m just very content and looking forward to the future.” THREE-PEAT ... Saucon Valley junior Virginia Kraus won her third straight state title, winning the Class 2A race with a time of 18:18.

PIAA CROSS COUNTRY MEET

Results of TN Area Runners

GIRLS

Class 1A

166. Teaghan Biros (Marian) 24:22, 208. Adalyn Marek (Marian) 25:49.

Class 2A

110. Brielle Frable (Lehighton) 21:41, 151. Emma Heil (Northern Lehigh) 22:17, 154. Stacy Bos (Jim Thorpe) 22:18, 163, Sophia Cornell (Northwestern) 22:31, 222. Claudia Pagotto (Lehighton) 24:19.

Class 3A

151. Danielle Boland (Pleasant Valley) 21:19.

BOYS

Class 1A

106. Sebastian Williams (Weatherly) 18:45, 138. Wade Eroh (Marian) 19:15, 194. Achilles Fitzpatrick (Marian) 20:18.

Class 2A

41. Connor Hibell (Palmerton) 17:18, 68. Elijah Pagotto (Lehighton) 17:39, 104. Anthony Marchetti (Tamaqua) 17:59, 123. Levi Kunkel (Tamaqua) 18:15, 142. Xander Giandomenico (Northwestern) 18:24.