The third time was the charm for Erica Angelillo.

It was her third time running the Bear Mountain State Park cross-country course on Thursday morning, and the Highland High School junior finished eighth in 23:09.4 to qualify for Saturday’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships at Chenango Valley State Park.

She was the second finisher not from the winning team, the James I. O’Neill Raiders, to take one of the five individual spots.

She almost had some company at the state meet as teammate Avaise Adams finished 13th, one spot and eight seconds behind Spackenkill’s Kathryn Gagliardi.

The course, which features a run around Lake Hessian, and then a challenging hill as the runners come around into their final mile.

There’s one word for it.

“Painful,” Angelillo said. “But it’s really beautiful and fun.”

It was easy to keep track of what her status was during the race. Even though she was trailing a wave of O’Neill runners, officials were yelling her place as she ran past. It was obvious early that the Raiders were going to take the team championship.

She ignored them.

“I was trying to shut it out because I didn’t want to get too excited and then not go,” Angelillo said.

There was some disappointment in the boys’ Class C race as Highland eighth-grader Michael Koehler finished eight seconds behind Liberty’s Gabriel Desrochers, who took the fifth individual spot. Koehler was the sixth finisher not from meet-winning O’Neill.

Koehler was the only eighth grader in the race.

The Huskies finished fourth with 99 points.

In the boys’ Class B race, Marlboro’s Robert Jackson and Matthew Castellini finished 44th and 48th. Emma Elizondo finished 18th in the girls’ race.

Section 9 Cross Country Championships

GirlsClass B
1. Goshen 17; 2. Monticello - 56; 3. New Paltz - 69; 4. Red Hook - 105.
Local results: 1. Kayla Schramm (Goshen); 18. Emma Elizondo (Marlboro) - 22:54.7.

Class C
1. James I. O’Neill - 15; 2. Onteora - 68; 3. Spackenkill - 70; 4. Fallsburg - 89.

Local results: 1. Leah Richardson (JIO) - 20:12.7; 8. Erica Angelillo - 23:09.4; 13. Avaise Adams - 24:19.1

Boys Class B
1. Mount Academy - 44; 2. Goshen - 59; 3. Wallkill - 88; 4. Beacon - 93; 5. Red Hook - 122; 6. New Paltz - 151; 7. Monticello - 169; 8. Saugerties - 236.
Local results: 1. Ike Blough (Mount) - 15:40.8; 44. Robert Jackson (Marlboro) - 19:27.4; 48; Matthew Castellini (Marlboro) - 20:38.3.

Class C

1. James I. O’Neill - 19; 2. Onteora - 76; 3. John S. Burke - 92; 4. Highland - 99; 5. Dover - 105; 6. Liberty - 134.
Local results: 1. Carson Darling (JIO) - 17:02.2; 14. Michael Koehler (Highland) - 19:31.5; 16. Ryan Pikul (Highland) - 20:17.4; 17. Basil Metz - 20:45.4; 29. Zachary Haeser (Highland) - 22:38.3; 31. Alexander Papazov (Highland) - 22:41.5; 32. Joseph Carpico (Highland) - 23:01.4; 37. George Space - 24:43.6.