Warren's Luke Rettenberger won the individual championship at Saturday's Twin State League cross country championships, Saturday in Beverly. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

BEVERLY – Those three words e very runner wants to hear after crossing the finish line brought new life to a beleaguered Ashlee Pate as she awaited word on her winning time at Saturday’s Twin State League Cross Country Championships at Fort Frye High School.

“You did it!”

Pate set a lifetime best by obliterating her previous career best by some 20 seconds after turning in a time of 19:20 – a 44-second margin of victory over teammate Rania Singh in the girls race.

“That’s the fastest time I have ever had,” said Pate, who clipped off 24 seconds from her previous lifetime PR. “This is one of my favorite courses and I really wanted to get the record. I just told myself to get closer to the (pace car) every step. Kept telling myself I am strong and I can do it.”

A total of four Warren runners – Hollyn Reed in third place and Juliana Huffman in eight place — finished in the top 10 and earned All-TSL recognition to lead the Warriors to a three-peat.

Warren's Ashlee Pate won the individual title in the girls race at Saturday's Twin State League cross country championships in Beverly. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

The event concluded a morning where the Warren boys also claimed its second team title in three years. Leading the Warriors’ push was sophomore Luke Rettenberger, who in similar fashion to Pate, took individual honors in dominating fashion.

Rettenberger’s time of 15:40 was one minute and one second faster than teammate Caleb Yost, who finished runner-up. Earlier this season on the same course at the Fort Frye Invitational, Eastern’s Connor Nolan provided a push for Rettenberger, so his time was 10 seconds faster.

On Saturday, Rettenberger was a one-man act throughout.

“Today, it was just about getting back under 16 minutes,” said Rettenberger, who placed fourth at the TSL Championships a year ago. “I just focused on my breathing, my form and my rhythm and drive myself to the end because when there is nobody around you have to push yourself. And that’s something I’m not really good at.

“This summer, I’ve out in a lot more miles. I focused on having fun, too.”

The Fort Frye girls ran as a pack during Saturday's Twin State League cross country championships, Saturday in Beverly. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Five Warren runners on the boys side also received All-TSL recognition. Joining Rettenberger and Yost win the top 10 were Tyler Frye in third place, Spencer Riehl in fifth place and Alex Bishop Iin sixth place.

Of the four TSL member schools, only Marietta fielded a full team in the boys race. On behalf of Warren coach Ryan Werry, assistant coach Tony Zaleski was given the honor to speak on behalf of his team.

“Right after Luke, Tyler and Caleb both broke 17 minutes today, which were lifetime PRs then behind him was our fourth (Spencer) which is where he has been at,” Zaleski said. “Alex also ran a PR today and our sixth, Carter Norman, ran a season PR. Nick Bishop, not normally in our top 7, also ran a PR. It’s the end of the year and we do hard reps, longer recovery, less mileage so they should feel fast and recovered.

“We are ready for the postseason. We are ready for districts.”

Warren now turns its attention to next Saturday’s district at Rio Grande. The field is stacked, but the Warriors are confident the training process has prepared them for advancing to regionals.

On the girls side, Warren has its work cut it in the postseason. Pate, though, is determined to make amends for last season’s showing at the district meet. A performance like the TSL Championships does nothing but strengthen her confidence level.

“On that final lap, I was telling myself to push as hard as I could,” Pate said. “I’ve bene trying to get my record the whole season.”

On the girls side, Warren’s only competition from a team standpoint was Fort Frye, which opted to run as a pack following several grueling weeks competing recently at a night invitational and the OVAC Championships where the Cadets won the Class 3A title.

As a result, Camryn Huck, Cadence Waller and Laine Spindler led the Cadet contingent running side by side as runners entered the track for the final lap leading to the finish line. The trio turned in identical times of 22:24 with Huck taking fifth, Waller sixth and Spindler seventh.

The remaining two Cadet entries, Sophia Huck and Lydia Huck, also turned in All-TSL times after placing ninth and 10th, respectively.

“Today was a strategy thing,” Fort Frye coach Jason Lipot said. “A couple girls needed the rest after working hard the last couple of weeks. That took us out of the running for the championship. We didn’t want to stress the others ones out.

“With districts coming up, we would have liked to line it up and win this on our home course. Their focus is on next Saturday at districts in Cambridge.”

Local runners also placing in the top 10 included Marietta’s Hailey Powell (fourth) in the girls race. For the boys, Marietta’s Ian Putnam (fourth), Emmett Parman (seventh) and Elliot Schramm (10th) earned league honors, while Brody Griffith represented Fort Frye with his eighth-place showing.