In her final chance to win a District 3 Class AAA cross country title, Chambersburg senior Abby Yourkavitch came through with a big-time performance. And that was plenty good enough to earn the title.

Yourkavitch broke ahead early and was never caught Saturday in the race at Big Spring H.S. She finished in a time of 18:23, nine seconds ahead of runner-up Emily Schuler of Dallastown and seven more ahead of Hershey’s Andie Demko.

“Abby’s had to play second fiddle to some really good kids, so this was her chance,” Chambersburg coach Chris Monheim said. “She took the lead at around the mile mark, which is a little early for her. I think in the last quarter mile, she increased her lead, so she wasn’t really challenged.”

It was the Trojans’ first individual district champion since Sarah Morrison in 2005.

In addition, Chambersburg also placed fourth as  team to qualify for the PIAA Championships next week at Hershey. The Trojans scored 181 points. Manheim Township won easily with 67, followed by Dallastown (122) and Hershey (177).

Monheim said, “We had a much better day than the last meet (Mid Penns). If we can run a little better again next week, we could get top 10 at states.”

Kiera Whitehead took 19th for Chambersburg in 19:38.

“For her to get a medal as a freshman is a nice honor,” Monheim said.

Also for the Trojans, seniors Kaylee Mowery (37th, 20:17) and Sydney Parson (58th, 20:44) were next, followed by freshman Maddie Kinton (69th, 21:05), senior Kyleena Purvis (70th, 21:06) and sophomore Ana DeGrange (81st, 21:17).

Chambersburg’s boys turned in a tie for ninth place with Cedar Crest in Class AAA boys. The Trojans were led by juniors Trenton Overcash (41st, 17:04) and Orion Kimberly (43rd, 17:05), followed by Joe Corwell (75th, 17:33), Patrick Zook (83rd, 17:39), Matt Hoover (92nd, 17:46) and Chris Diaz (96th, 17:38) and Donovan Hazelton (154th, 18:24).

In Class AA girls, Taryn Parks of Greencastle-Antrim picked up third place with a time of 18:25. Northern York’s Marlee Starliper crushed the field in 17:25, followed by Maddie McLain of Eastern York (18:20).

Teddi Powell of Shippensburg was 39th (22:06), James Buchanan’s Renee Sollenberger was 78th in 23:44.

In AA boys, Greencastle’s Rylan Hummer was 50th in 18:00, JB’s Noah Shank was 57th in 18:08 and Ship’s Kyle Buchheister was 61st in 18:17.