Saucon Valley High School's girls cross country team, under the direction of head coach Ed Kolosky, recently finished a stellar season that featured a Colonial League team championship and a top 10 finisher at the PIAA 3A meet in Hershey earlier this month.
Diminutive freshman Elizabeth Chikotas, who won Colonial League individual honors over the 5K DeSales University course Oct. 23, earned a seventh-place medal at the Nov. 6 PIAA meet.
Chikotas distinguished herself in her first varsity season and appears to have a successful career ahead of her, after finishing the PIAA race in a time of 19:00.
"I've broken 19 minutes before," Chikotas said, following her Colonial League victory at DeSales in 19:02. "It gives me something to aim for in these meets."
Chikotas shattered the 19-minute barrier at this fall's Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh University, covering a very muddy course in 18:42 for a seventh-place finish in her division.
Chikotas didn't fare as well at the District 11 meet, posting a time of 19:21, which was well behind gold medal winner Jess Cygan of Bethlehem's Liberty High School.
The third-place D-11 finish did qualify Chikotas for the state meet.
Fortunately for the Panthers, Chikotas isn't alone when it comes to talent on Saucon's Valley's squad.
Junior Lainie Smith provided plenty of balance and competition during the recently completed season.
Smith finished second to Chikotas at the Colonial League championships in a time of 19:31, which marked a season-best time. She also placed seventh in the District 11 meet and 44th at the state level.
The Panthers dominated the Colonial League meet with four runners in the top 10, in addition to Chikotas and Smith.
Megan Stack earned fourth place in a time of 20:24 and Sarah Kish finished 10th, crossing the finish line in 20:50.
Those four top 10 efforts lifted the Panthers well past Notre Dame of Green Pond and Northwestern Lehigh for the team crown.
