Because she aspires to larger accomplishments, she looked at it as a stepping stone. But that didn’t stop Lily Brubaker from reveling in a Lebanon County championship.

On Saturday morning at Gloninger Woods Park, Brubaker captured the individual female title at the annual Lebanon County Cross Country Championships. It was the Elco senior’s second such championship in three years.

And Brubaker did it in decisive fashion.

Brubaker covered the mostly flat 3.1-mile course in 18:41.8. It was a time that was Brubaker’s personal-best by about a minute and it was 57 seconds faster than runner-up Marissa Mull of Palmyra.

Brubaker got off to a fast start and established a little breathing room by the top of Gloninger Woods Park’s first hill. From there, she steadily increased her advantage to a point where she was competing against herself.

Two years ago, Brubaker captured her first Lebanon County title at Annville-Cleona high school. Last year, she finished second at the meet.

Next month, Brubaker will be seeking to improve on her fifth-place finish at last season’s District Three race.

– Jeff Falk