CENTER VALLEY – The moment felt surreal for Jim Thorpe freshman Logan Gillespie.

It wasn’t long ago Gillespie wasn’t sure when — or if — she’d be able to compete again.

On Wednesday, she crossed the finish line at DeSales University with a smile and a top-five medal, placing fourth in the District 11 Class 2A girls race to punch her ticket to the PIAA Championships.

“I didn’t realize I was that far up until right at the finish line,” Gillespie said with a laugh. “I thought I was in eighth, and then I heard I was fourth — I was like, wow.”

After missing nearly her entire track season and the majority of the fall due to medical issues, Gillespie’s comeback has been remarkable, and includes a fifth-place finish at last week’s Colonial League meet.

“When I got cleared to run again, I went out and ran an 8:30 mile and thought, ‘I’m not going to be able to race,’ ” said Gillespie, who ran the final two regular season meets before competing in leagues. “But I just kept working. I pushed the hills today and felt really good. I’m just proud and excited for the experience.”

Calm, confident, and composed beyond her years, Gillespie surged through the rolling DeSales University course, clocking a 20:07 — a 20-second improvement from her fifth-place time (20:27) at last week’s Colonial League meet.

As Gillespie caught her breath at the finish line, her expression said it all — part disbelief, part satisfaction, and a full measure of joy.

“I just tried to push through and enjoy the race,” she said. “Now I get to go to Hershey, and I’m so excited to see what it’s like.”

Nestor, Heil punch tickets to Hershey

Joining Gillespie in the Class 2A field will be Northwestern Lehigh sophomore Rosalia Nestor and Northern Lehigh senior Emma Heil, both earning top-11 finishes to move on to states.

Nestor placed eighth overall, securing her first-ever trip to Hershey after just missing the cut as a freshman.

“Today I really tried to focus on having fun,” Nestor said. “I’ve had some health issues and injuries, so I just wanted to enjoy the race. I really thought I’d make states my freshman year and then I just bonked, so I’m so happy to finally get there.”

The Northwestern standout said her approach this fall was guided by patience.

“I’ve been reminding myself that progress isn’t linear,” she said. “It’s okay if you’re not there yet, because you will be.”

Heil, who finished 11th, capped an inspiring senior campaign that saw her finally healthy after battling stress fractures during her earlier seasons.

“I’ve never run in the 20s before, especially on this course,” Heil said. “I ran about 40 seconds faster than at leagues, so I’m really happy. I’m just so thankful to be healthy and to end my senior year at states.”

Marian duo delivers

In Class 1A, Marian Catholic senior Teaghan Biros and sophomore Anna Keer each earned a trip to Hershey, placing sixth and ninth, respectively.

“I trained all summer to lead up to it,” Biros said. “I knew I had it in me — it was just a matter of going out there and doing it. Being a senior, this was my last time on this course, so I was leaving it all out there.”

Experience and strategy helped Biros pace her race – and return to states.

“From past years I learned if I go out too fast, I have nothing left,” she said. “So I remind myself to start calm — when you run calm, you run fast.”

Keer, who missed last year’s meet due to illness, said this season’s result made everything worthwhile.

“I’m just very excited this year that I’m able to go,” Keer said. “My goal was to stick with that top-10 group and get a medal. Teaghan’s such a hard worker — when I run with her, it pushes me so much more.”

Kehler impresses in first season

Weatherly freshman Alexia Kehler completed the list of area girls qualifiers in Class 1A, placing 10th in her debut varsity season.

“I’m really proud of myself,” Kehler said. “I worked hard all summer for this. My goal was just to get a medal — to get top 10 and qualify for states feels amazing.”

Kehler, who previously played soccer and competed in track, said she’s grown to love the sport.

“I definitely think it’s one of the hardest sports,” she said. “Not everyone can go out and run three miles easily. But I love it because of the people around me and how it makes me feel.”

Pagotto, Gormley round out the group

Lehighton sophomore Claudia Pagotto and Tamaqua freshman Shaylee Gormley earned the final two individual qualifying spots in Class 2A, finishing 14th and 15th, respectively, to round out the region’s strong showing.

In all, eight area girls qualified for the PIAA Cross Country Championships, which will be held Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Parkview Course in Hershey.

DISTRICT 11 CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

RESULTS

GIRLS

CLASS 1A

(Top two teams plus 10 individuals not on those teams advance to states)

TEAM SCORES AND LEGEND

1. Minersville Area (MIN) – 44*; 2. Schuylkill Haven (SH) – 56*; 3. Shenandoah Valley (SV) – 63; 4. Marian Catholic (MAR) – 79; 5. Moravian Academy (MA) – 95.

Teams marked with an asterisk () advance to the PIAA Championships.*

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

1. Marley Zimmerman, SR (MIN), 21:06.1*; 2. Felicia Bro, SR (MAH), 21:43.5*; 3. Rio Stoudt, JR (BEC), 22:02.3*; 4. Anna Cook, SO (TV), 22:31.6*; 5. Ava Bosack, FR (MIN), 22:47.1*; 6. Teaghan Biros, SR (MAR), 22:56.4*; 7. Ayla Essler-Kiryama, JR (SH), 23:01.7*; 8. Alexa Sukeena, SO (MIN), 23:03.5*; 9. Anna Keer, SO (MAR), 23:16.0*; 10. Alexia Kehler, FR (WEA), 23:30.4*; 11. Valeria Hernandez, JR (SV), 23:41.9*; 12. Faith Krammes, SR (SH), 24:01.8*; 13. Allie Bright, JR (SH), 24:09.3*; 14. Lily Razavi, JR (MA), 24:14.0*; 15. Victoria Hernandez, JR (SV), 24:28.6*; 16. Skylar Husser, SO (BEC) 24:38.3*; 18. Ellie Purcell, SO (MIN), 24:47.8*; 22. Joy Schock, SO (SH), 25:19.0*; 23. Lilly Wisner, JR (SH), 25:19.8*; 25. Eva Tarleton, JR (SH), 25:35.9*; 26. Alora Smith, SO (MIN), 25:38.7*; 28. Isabella Pleznarski, SO (MIN), 27:15.6*; 30. Alexa Eisnehart, FR (MIN), 28: 33. Azrael Zito, FR (MAR) 26:53.6; 34. Addy Marek, (MAR) 27:08.9; 35. Isabella Martinez, SO (MAR) 27:12.2.

Individuals marked with an asterisk advance to the PIAA Championships.*

CLASS 2A

(Top two teams plus 10 individuals not on those teams advance to states)

TEAM SCORES AND LEGEND

1. Notre Dame-Green Pond (NDGP) – 50*; 2. Wilson Area (WIL) – 91*; 3. Blue Mountain (BM) – 111; 4. Saucon Valley (SV) – 129; 5. Jim Thorpe Area (JT) – 133; 6. Pen Argyl Area (PA) – 155; 7. Allentown Central Catholic (ACC) – 165; 8. Northwestern Lehigh (NWL) – 184; 9. Tamaqua Area (TAM) – 232; 10. Lehighton (LEH) – 269.

Teams marked with an asterisk () advance to the PIAA Championships.*

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

1. Virginia Kraus, SR (SV), 17:49.0*; 2. Juliana Bonham, SO (WIL), 19:09.0*; 3. Samantha Karwacki, SR (NDGP), 20:05.2*; 4. Logan Gillespie, FR (JT), 20:07.2*; 5. Katherine Colon, SR (WIL), 20:13.0*; 6. Ella Schweitzer, SR (NDGP), 20:14.0*; 7. Brenna Hammerstone, SR (NDGP), 20:22.9*; 8. Rosalia Nestor, SO (NWL), 20:25.4*; 9. Vanessa Frasnelli, JR (BM), 20:31.0*; 10. Genevieve Dando, FR (NS), 20:35.7*; 11. Emma Heil, SR (NL), 20:53.2*; 12. Ainsley Tighe, SO (ACC) 21:12.1*; 13. Bridget Steidle, JR (SV) 21:14.9*; 14. Claudia Pagotto, SO (LEH), 21:15.3*; 15. Shaylee Gormley, FR (TAM), 21:15.8*; 19. Kayleigh Halenar, FR (JT), 21:43.2; 21. Katie Furman, FR (NWL), 21:49.1*; 23. Anna Hawk, SO (LEH), 21:57.7; 30. Stacy Bos, JR (JT), 22:25.7; 34. Emily Gad, JR (NL) 22:47.5; 36. Emma Rex, SR (PAL) 22:54.4; 40. Olivia Holland, FR (JT) 23:11.1; 47. Ava Smedstad, SR (NWL), 23:48.7; 50. Ava Jones, SR (TAM), 23:54.5.

Individuals marked with an asterisk advance to the PIAA Championships.*

CLASS 3A

(Top two teams plus 10 individuals not on those teams advance to states)

TEAM SCORES AND LEGEND

1. Easton Area (EAS) – 57*; 2. Emmaus (EMM) – 84*; 3. Parkland (PAR) – 87; 4. Liberty (LIB) – 106; 5. Southern Lehigh (SL) – 113; 6. Nazareth Area (NAZ) – 126; 7. Freedom (FRE) – 152; 8. Stroudsburg (STR) – 230; 9. Northampton Area (NOR) – 273; 10. Whitehall (WH) – 286.

Teams marked with an asterisk () advance to the PIAA Championships.*

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

1. Madelyn McCartney, SR (EMM), 18:02.5*; 2. Elizabeth McClarin, SO (LIB), 18:49.6*; 3. Hannah Brodhead, SO (FRE), 19:06.5*; 4. Katie Drabouski, JR (LIB), 19:09.5*; 5. Harshita Keerthi, JR (PAR), 19:10.5*; 6. Lyla Knoble, SO (EAS), 19:30.5*; 7. Vivian Clark, JR (EAS), 19:40.7*; 8. Caelee Lenhart, JR (SL), 19:43.9*; 9. Lama Mahmoud, SR (EAS), 19:48.8*; 10. Taylor Vidumsky, JR (FRE), 19:51.3*; 46. Keeley Lawrence, SR (PV), 22:24.2; 50. Rebekah McLeod, JR (PV), 22:47.8.

Individuals marked with an asterisk advance to the PIAA Championships.*