In 2012, Miranda Salvo followed Maria Tukis to a District Three championship. This season, Salvo blazed her own trail.

On Wednesday afternoon at Hershey Parkview’s 3.1-mile course, Salvo won the Class AA individual championship in inspirational fashion. The Palmyra junior conquered the hilly and challenging course and the field, running a 19:15 to out distance her nearest competitor by 25 seconds.

Salvo ran a spectacular race in her mind and with legs. She kept herself at or near the front of the race for the first two miles, then broke away from the pack as the finish line came within reach.

Salvo’s performance also inspired her teammates to a second-place finish in the team standings. Last season, Salvo was a follower, as the Cougars claimed both the District Three and PIAA Class AA team trophies.

For Salvo, more and more the top rungs of the medal podium are becoming comfortable places. During the 2013 spring track and field season, Salvo was a main cog in a Palmyra 3200-relay squad which captured both district and state gold.

Jeff Falk