Logan Gillespie wasn’t counting places as she worked her way through the field Saturday.

She was simply running her race.

But as the Jim Thorpe sophomore continued passing runners at the PIAA Cross Country Championships, the numbers became increasingly difficult to ignore.

Fifteenth at the first mile. Ninth at the second. And by the time she crossed the finish line at Big Spring High School, Gillespie had climbed all the way to sixth.

It was a fitting conclusion to a remarkable season.

Gillespie completed the Class 2A girls race in 18:39, earning a state medal and adding another impressive accomplishment to a season that included Colonial League and District 11 championships and a victory at the prestigious Paul Short Run.

A year ago, Gillespie finished 81st at states in 21:33 on the course at Hershey.

“Last year I was happy with top 100, so that’s kind of a huge jump,” Gillespie said.

It was a performance that exceeded even her own expectations.

Gillespie entered the season believing a state medal might be possible, perhaps somewhere around 25th place. By Saturday, she had established herself among the top contenders, entering the race ranked ninth.

But rather than getting caught up in the early pace, Gillespie trusted the approach that had served her so well throughout the season.

“I kind of stayed more back, but to the point where I wasn’t boxed in,” she said. “I just kind of one by one took girls off.”

As she entered the final mile, Gillespie began hearing spectators calling out her position.

“I didn’t realize I was actually that far up in the pack,” she said. “In my head, it was just kind of not to let 10th place get in front of me, not to lose the top 10, and then I ended up being able to just pick off enough to get to sixth.”

For Jim Thorpe coach Marie Rosahac, the performance was another example of how much Gillespie has grown, both physically and mentally, over the past year.

Rosahac believed a top-10 finish was within reach, but didn’t want to place unnecessary pressure on her young standout. The initial goal was to earn a state medal by finishing among the top 25.

“She’s very good at pacing herself and working toward her goals,” Rosahac said. “She’s matured a lot with her running and is more confident, being able to realize that she’s capable of doing well.”

Having competed at Big Spring earlier in the season, Gillespie was familiar with the challenging course and knew what to expect.

She placed third at the PIAA Foundation Invitational, a performance she said gave her confidence heading into the state meet on the same course.

That result came before her victory at the prestigious Paul Short Run, another significant moment in a season in which Gillespie continued to prove she belonged among the state’s best.

Gillespie carried that momentum into the postseason, winning the Colonial League title in 18:39.6 before capturing the District 11 Class 2A championship in 18:27.6 at DeSales University, recording the fastest girls time across all three classifications.

Despite everything she accomplished, it was her Paul Short victory that Gillespie identified as perhaps the biggest surprise.

“I wasn’t expecting to win that,” she said. “That was huge.”

According to Rosahac, Gillespie’s sixth-place finish also appears to be the highest in Jim Thorpe cross country history. Chelsea Mullins previously placed 11th at states, while Johnathan Condly finished 14th as a senior.

Beyond the medals and victories, Rosahac was equally proud of Gillespie’s composure, work ethic and genuine love of running.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better year for her, being league champ, district champ and now a top-10 state medal,” Rosahac said. “I’m very proud of her.”

The championship also carried special meaning for Gillespie, who shared the experience with senior teammate Stacy Bos, who placed 150th in 21:48.

“It was kind of bittersweet to be able to go out with her for her last year,” Gillespie said. “It was really nice to have another person there and not to be the only one.”

Weatherly makes its mark

Weatherly also put the finishing touches on a memorable season, with District 11 Class 1A individual champion Mikayla Pugh leading the Wreckers to an 18th-place finish in the state team standings.

The Wreckers earned their state berth with a runner-up finish at districts, then made the most of their opportunity at Big Spring.

“I think the kids ran great,” Weatherly coach Ryan Kately said. “They were focused on running well at states and wanted to put their stamp on the season rather than just being happy to be there.”

Pugh placed 28th in 20:34, steadily moving through the field after sitting 39th at the first mile and 31st at the second.

According to Kately, it was the highest individual state finish in Weatherly cross country history.

“Mikayla ran like she has been all season,” Kately said.

The Wreckers finished with 391 points, with Mikayla Kuntz (109th, 21:59), Emma Moyer (130th, 22:20), Lexi Kehler (215th, 25:10) and Riley Bachert (248th, 31:49) also competing.

Kately said Pugh and Moyer ran together for much of the race, while Kehler and Bachert delivered what he believed were their best performances of the season.

Weatherly’s Alex Best also competed in the Class 1A boys race, placing 133rd in 18:30.

“Alex ran great as well, really focused and had a great attitude heading in,” Kately said. “Really happy with everyone’s performance.”

Area athletes compete

Northwestern Lehigh’s boys also capped a successful postseason with a 17th-place finish in the Class 2A team standings.

The Tigers earned their state berth with a runner-up finish at districts and were led by Brandon Richards, who placed 90th in 17:28.

Michael Richards (157th, 18:03), Isaac Grubb (166th, 18:08), Noah Griffith (176th, 18:13) and Adin Breidinger (200th, 18:31) rounded out Northwestern’s five scoring runners. The Tigers finished with 397 points.

Lehighton was represented by three runners, led by Joshua Cathers, who finished 66th in the Class 2A boys race in 17:14.

Grace Cathers placed 97th in the Class 2A girls race in 21:04, while Claudia Pagotto finished 138th in 21:40, making her third consecutive appearance at the state championships.

“Overall it was a great season watching athletes continue to get faster and run on new courses we haven’t seen yet in the Colonial League,” Lehighton coach Erica Pagotto said.

The Cathers siblings were welcome additions to the program this fall.

“They have been such a blessing to the team — hard workers and great teammates,” Pagotto said.

Pagotto said Claudia was excited to qualify for states for the third consecutive year, and although the Big Spring course presented a challenge, the Indians enjoyed the experience.

The weekend also brought a reunion for Pagotto, whose former runner, Cera Gaston, competed at states a decade ago. Gaston is now a physical education teacher and head cross country coach at another high school, where she guided a girls runner to states for the first time in 10 years.

Gaston and her state qualifier stayed at the same hotel as Lehighton, allowing the two groups to share dinner.

“It was a nice reunion,” Pagotto said.

Tamaqua’s Memphis Kline was 117th in the Class 2A boys race in 17:41, while Marian’s Jacob Berlanda led the area’s Class 1A boys finishers with a 111th-place effort in 18:13.

TIMES NEWS AREA RESULTS

GIRLS

Class 1A

28. Mikayla Pugh (Weatherly) 20:34; 109. Mikayla Kuntz (Weatherly) 21:59; 130. Emma Moyer (Weatherly) 22:20; 215. Lexi Kehler (Weatherly) 25:10; 248. Riley Bachert (Weatherly) 31:49.

Team standings: Weatherly, 18th, 391 points.

Class 2A

6. Logan Gillespie (Jim Thorpe) 18:39; 97. Grace Cathers (Lehighton) 21:04; 138. Claudia Pagotto (Lehighton) 21:40; 143. Katie Furman (Northwestern) 21:43; 150. Stacy Bos (Jim Thorpe) 21:48; 162. Rosalia Nestor (Northwestern) 21:58.

BOYS

Class 1A

111. Jacob Berlanda (Marian) 18:13; 131. Wade Eroh (Marian) 18:26; 133. Alex Best (Weatherly) 18:30.

Class 2A

66. Joshua Cathers (Lehighton) 17:14; 90. Brandon Richards (Northwestern) 17:28; 117. Memphis Kline (Tamaqua) 17:41; 157. Michael Richards (Northwestern) 18:03; 166. Isaac Grubb (Northwestern) 18:08; 176. Noah Griffith (Northwestern) 18:13; 177. Parker Steencken (Tamaqua) 18:14; 200. Adin Breidinger (Northwestern) 18:31; 216. Brady Furman (Northwestern) 18:47; 226. Quenton Guiterrez (Northwestern) 19:07.

Team standings: Northwestern, 17th, 397 points.