Two seniors, two stars, two lasting legacies.

Palmerton’s Connor Hibell and Saucon Valley’s Virginia Kraus — both course record-holders at Lehighton — headlined Tuesday’s Colonial League meet, with Hibell powering to another victory and Kraus, a three-time state champion, rewriting the girls mark in dominant fashion.

Hibell, who set the boys course record at Lehighton last fall with a time of 16:49, crossed first Tuesday in 17:19.05. Kraus ran 18:02.03 to win by more than three minutes and smash the girls record of 20:22 set last year by Northwestern’s Rosalia Nestor.

Hibell Sharpens Strategy

A two-time Times News Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Year and back-to-back Colonial League and District 11 champion, Hibell showed again why he is among the state’s best.

“I felt pretty good,” Hibell said. “I had a strong finish and ran the way I hoped to. I’ve been trying not to go out too fast in the first mile, and today I tried to even it out — it worked. I felt strong at the end.”

The Palmerton senior, who owns multiple league and district titles, is aiming to cap his career with his first state medal – something he seems primed to accomplish this fall in Hershey.

“I just want to be at my best when we get to districts,” Hibell said. “That’s where I want to run my strongest race and build momentum for states.”

Kraus Sets the Standard

On the girls side, Saucon Valley senior Virginia Kraus — already a three-time PIAA state champion and a Footlocker Northeast Regional winner — stole the spotlight with her record-breaking run.

“Virginia is such an unbelievable runner,” said Lehighton’s Claudia Pagotto, who placed second in 21:21.69. “She pushes me so much, and I don’t think I’d be able to run the times I do without people like her.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so happy. I was aiming today for top five to get somewhere on our record sheet. That was my biggest thing, and I’m so happy I did that.”

Pagotto, Fornaro

Push Forward

Claudia’s runner-up finish built on her own résumé as a returning state qualifier, while Palmerton’s Payten Fornaro followed closely in third with a time of 21:45.18.

“Last race with this group (of teams) I came in sixth, and this time I came in third,” Fornaro said. “Claudia pushes me so much in every race. I always try to stick behind her. She’s amazing and I kind of found my pace with her.

“When you start there are so many people, you can get stuck behind. So I try to start fast and stick with the people I’m usually with.”

Fornaro, who joined the program midway through her sophomore year when her team needed a fifth runner, has set her sights on states.

“My goal this year is to make it to states and get a good spot at districts,” said the former sprinter and long jumper.

Pagotto, Heimbach Pace Lehighton Boys

On the boys side, Lehighton senior Elijah Pagotto, also a former state qualifier, finished second in 18:31.25.

“Today was definitely not my best day,” Elijah said. “Connor is incredible — he was super out front — and I was kind of by myself in second. I took today more as a tempo. But the competition this year has definitely stepped up from last year.”

Freshman teammate Quinn Heimbach impressed with a sixth-place finish in 18:58.10.

“I’m very happy,” Heimbach said. “I’m consistently getting top 10s, which I’m really proud of. I was not expecting to be getting top 10s and stuff like that, but it’s awesome. It motivates me a lot. My goals are to at least break 18 this year and I want to make it to states.”

He credited teammates — including Elijah — and his support system for helping him adjust.

“I’m very happy that I have Elijah on my team,” he said. “I love all my teammates. Elijah pushes me to do better in practice and in meets. My peers and my family have been very helpful this year.”

Halenar Emerging

for Thorpe

Jim Thorpe freshman Kayleigh Halenar earned 10th in the girls race with a time of 23:27.94, adding another top finish to her first varsity season.

“Today wasn’t exactly my best, but I’ve had a really good season,” Halenar said. “At first I didn’t really know, and then as I raced more and I saw kind of where I was at, I got more confident. If I know a girl’s better than me, I try to stick with her and keep her in my sight. I try to get slightly faster in the second half of my race.”

Running since fifth grade, Halenar said she loves the sense of accomplishment at the finish line and the encouragement around her.

“I like when I finish and I look back and see how good I did,” she said. “I really like having a supportive team because it helps motivate me.”

Her ultimate goal is clear:

“My goal is to make it to states,” she said. “Twenty-two and a half is like the average for making it to states, so that would be the goal time.”

STRONG RUN ... Northern Lehigh’s Emma Heil, a state qualifier in her own right, recorded a solid top-10 Tuesday, placing eighth (22:36.42).

FRESHMEN PHENOMS ... Lehighton’s Heimbach and Jim Thorpe’s Halenar each placed first in the freshmen races at the 46th Annual Centaur Invitational at DeSales University on Sept. 6. Heimbach won the boys race, which featured 79 runners, in 18:26.24. Halenar placed first out of 54 runners in the girls race with a time of 22:52.50, winning by 30 seconds.

TEAM RESULTS ... Lehighton’s boys collected wins over Palmerton, Northern Lehigh, Jim Thorpe, Palisades and Moravian Academy, while falling to Notre Dame-Green Pond and Saucon Valley.

Jim Thorpe’s girls swept the locals with wins over Palmerton, Lehighton and Northern Lehigh. The Olympians also topped Moravian Academy and Palisades, while falling to Saucon Valley and Notre Dame-Green Pond.

MIDDLE SCHOOL MEET ... In the combined junior high race, Saucon Valley’s Liam McGuigan won the 2,575-meter course in 9:29.79.

Top area boys included Jim Thorpe’s Owen Novy (third, 10:08.10) and Isaiah Skrimcovsky (fourth, 10:38.72); Palmerton’s William Craig (fifth, 10:44.39) and Gunnar Wentz (seventh, 10:49.64), Jim Thorpe’s Joshua Shaffer (eighth, 10:52.25) and Lehighton’s Joshua Buffington (11th, 11:06.97).

Top area girls were Northern Lehigh’s Vivian Mayak (26th, 11:42.66), Jim Thorpe’s Grace Smith (30th, 12:05.06) and Northern Lehigh’s Mackenzie Maikits (32nd, 12:14.35).

BOYS

Lehighton 24, Palmerton 33

Lehighton 15, N. Lehigh 50

Lehighton 15, Jim Thorpe 50

Lehighton 24, Moravian 33

NDGP 24, Lehighton 37

Saucon Vy. 24, Lehighton 31

Lehighton 27, Palisades 30

Palmerton 15, N. Lehigh 50

Palmerton 15, Jim Thorpe 50

NDGP 20, Palmerton 43

Moravian 26, Palmerton 29

Saucon Vy. 20, Palmerton 36

Palisades 24, Palmerton 31

NDGP 15, Jim Thorpe 50

Moravian 15, Jim Thorpe 50

Saucon Vy. 15, Jim Thorpe 50

Palisades 15, Jim Thorpe 50

NDGP 15, Northern Lehigh 50

Moravian 15, N. Lehigh 50

Saucon Vy. 15, N. Lehigh 50

Palisades 15, N. Lehigh 50

(top 3 plus locals in top 25)

1. Connor Hibell (Palm) 17:19.05; 2. Elijah Pagotto (L) 18:31.25; 3. Emmett Rieland (NDGP) 18:40.19; 6. Quinn Heimbach (L) 18:58.10; 21. Gabe Wirth (JT) 20:23.44; 22. Edward Benedict (NL) 20:23.75, 23. Sebestian Warner (L) 20:24.48; 25. Ezra Green (Palm) 21:03.48.

GIRLS

Jim Thorpe 15, Palmerton 50

Jim Thorpe 15, Lehighton 50

Jim Thorpe 15, N. Lehigh 50

Jim Thorpe 24, Moravian 32

Jim Thorpe 15, Palisades 50

Saucon Vy. 19, Jim Thorpe 39

NDGP 16, Jim Thorpe 46

NDGP 15, Lehighton 50

NDGP 15, Palmerton 50

NDGP 15, Northern Lehigh 50

Saucon Vy. 15, Lehighton 50

Saucon Vy. 15, Palmerton 50

Saucon Vy. 15, N. Lehigh 50

Moravian 15, Lehighton 50

Moravian 15, Palmerton 50

Moravian 15, N. Lehigh 50

Palisades 15, Lehighton 50

Palisades 15, Palmerton 50

Palisades 15, N. Lehigh 50

(top 3 plus locals in top 25)

1. Virginia Kraus (SV) 18:02.03 (course record, prev. 20:22, Rosalia Nestor, Northwestern, 2024); 2. Claudia Pagotto (L) 21:21.69; 3. Payten Fornaro (Palm) 21:45.18; 8. Emma Heil (NL) 22:36.42; 10. Kayleigh Halenar (JT) 23:27.94; 11. Emily Gad (NL) 23:34.89; 14. Savannah Biechy (NL) 24:02.91; 17. Emma Rex (Palm) 24:29.40, 19. Olivia Holland (JT) 24:49.56; 22. Lillian Fox (Palm) 25:24.46; 23. Anna Hawk (L) 25:35.16.