They boys team will be joining them down at states, too, as they came in second in their Class AA race.

“From a program standpoint I’m really excited that, once again, we’re getting to take both programs to states,” said Lewisburg girls’ coach Michael Espinosa. “I believe that gives us five years in a row that both programs have gone. The boys program has gone every year since 2018, so it’s very exciting.”

For the girls, senior Baylee Espinosa couldn’t be happier to end her high school career with her team at states.

“It feels incredible,” she said. “We had crunched the numbers, we knew Danville was such a strong team, and we were kind of saying, ‘alright, the odds are really stacked against us right now – we’re not going to lie about it.’ Losing our number four runner was really, really hard, and it was something that we were grieving a little bit, and then also having to pick ourselves back up to just refocus, and shift our goals at the end of the season, and seeing what our teammates did today. My co captain Theo having the race of her life, then all of our freshmen defying the odds and being able to finish strong.”

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lewisburg's Theo Wilkinson competes in the District 4 Class AA cross country championships at Bloomsburg on Thursday.

Espinosa (18:42.4) was second in her title defense, falling to Wellsboro’s Lauren Kosek (17:59.3).

Theo Wilkinson (19:22.2) was fourth, while Annika Ikeda-Shields (19:39.7) came in sixth.

After the seniors did their jobs freshman Ella Beal (20:46.6) was 19th and sophomore Serena Anmuth (21:25.9) took 25th to finish things out.

Espinosa has been battling some health issues and felt she didn’t have her best.

“I feel like I could be running much faster than this right now.” She said. “I’ve had some great workouts, I think the work has been there. I’ve been working really, really hard for a long time for this season.”

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lewisburg's Justin Nolt competes in the District 4 Class AA cross country championships at Bloomsburg on Thursday.

She’s hoping they’re able to figure out what the problem is so they can fix it for states.

“I’m hoping that I can salvage somewhat of this season, and still put out a good performance, especially for our team,” said Espinosa.

Wilkinson spent most of the race attached to hip of Towanda’s Maris Cobb, who edged her out for third.

“I was so grateful that she was there,” said Wilkinson. “I think that she really helped me to recommit to that last part of the race that would have otherwise been really lonely. I made sure to congratulate her at the end.”

Coach Espinosa was glad to see Wilkinson step up like she did.

“It was absolutely tremendous,” he said. “Theo has been a four-year varsity athlete for us, but when they were a ninth grader, they were kind of on the fringe. As a 10th grader, given the opportunity to step up when it looked like we were not going to make it back to states that year, Theo found something within themselves, and overnight seemed to change into the runner that they are now. Theo is a champion hearted athlete who absolutely gives everything that they have for the team.”

Wilkinson was glad to see her team give everything they had for the win.

“I think that everybody put their hearts into their races today,” they said. “I’m so glad that it worked out.”

On the boys’ side the Green Dragons held off a strong start from Danville to take second.

Hughesville (56) won followed by Lewisburg (85), and then Danville (99).

Justin Nolt (16:29.2) took silver to lead the Green Dragons as Hugh Ikeda-Shields (17:00.4) took ninth.

Ian Cavanaugh (17:03.8) was 12th, Paul Tranquillo (17:54.4) came in 27th, and Thomas Graham (18:33.6) was 44th.

“It’s such a great feeling,” Nolt said about going as a team. “I’ve always found I run better when we’re there as a team, and I’m just so proud of these boys, and the work they’ve put in.”