BOARDMAN — Salem senior Jill Pieren watched her cross country teammates earlier this season as she rested an injured knee.

“I still felt part of the team, but it’s not the same,” she said.

Pieren returned Oct. 5 and the Quakers needed her Saturday as they earned their fourth straight state berth.

The Salem girls finished fifth in the Boardman Division II regional with 191 points, four ahead of sixth-place Tallmadge.

The top six teams and top 24 individuals in Division II advance to the state meet this Saturday at Fortress Obetz.

“There were nine teams with a legitimate shot coming in,” Salem coach Ted Yuhaniak said. “Everyone had us ninth. They all beat us by 100 points at the Spartan Invitational.”

The Quakers finished fifth at the district meet last week and the Boardman regional is always challenging.

“We told them make sure you can see the front,” Yuhaniak said.

“We did pretty good as a team,” Pieren said. “We kept moving up and doing our job.”

Salem sophomore Sam Yakubek also earned a state berth, while the district champion boys team came up just short.

“I PR’d, but the team is more important,” Yakubek said. “I know a lot of our team didn’t get the race we wanted.”

Yakubek finished 10th out of 148 boys runners in 16 minutes, 33.14 seconds — bettering his personal best by 10 seconds.

“He’s that talented,” Yuhaniak said. “I knew he could run in the top 10 at regionals.”

“I got out fast and tried to pick off people one by one,” Yakubek said.

The Salem boys finished seventh in the team standings with 237 points, five behind Chagrin Falls for the sixth and final state berth.

Tears soon turned to cheers for the Salem girls, who knew it was going to be close as they waited for results to be posted.

“I was a little anxious and worried,” Pieren said. “I knew we had a shot. It was just the wait. It was worth it.”

The Quakers didn’t had anyone in the top 30, but had three runners in the top 37.

Salem’s leaders were senior Maggie Hopple in 32nd, senior Maggie Hall 35th, sophomore Cassidy Wallace 37th, Pieren 52nd, senior Klaire Jaquette 82nd, freshman Liliana Pimentel Alexander 91st and junior Paige Menough 122nd. Menough replaced junior Laura Hovorka, who is out with a nagging ankle injury.

“I knew everyone would do their job,” Pieren said.

She is glad to be back in the lineup.

“My season was a little challenging,” Pieren said. “It was rough sitting out. I felt I was missing a lot. It was worth it in the end.”

Hopple and Hall will be in the state meet for a fourth year. They have led the way all four years as the Quakers were fourth in 2021, fifth in 2022 and eighth in 2023.

“We could tell,” Yuhaniak said. “We had a couple of older girls who showed them the way.”

Pieren is preparing for her third state appearance. She knows what her message will be for the underclassmen if they ask.

“Never take anything for granted,” she said. “Keep working hard and it will be worth it in the end.”

Meet notes

• The Salem boys missed a state berth by five points after missing last year by six points.

“Your heart breaks for those boys,” Yuhaniak said. “Aiden Wright hadn’t been sick in two years and he got it real bad this week. He’s as tough as they are.”

Backing Yakubek for the Salem boys were senior Parker Warren in 35th, sophomore Luke Stephens 46th, freshman Alex Rea 88th, freshman Colton Hall 98th, junior Cooper Barth 104th and Wright 144th.

• Yakubek went to the state meet last year to watch teammate Will Madison, who was watching the Quakers on Saturday.

“They are all fast runners,” Yakubek said. “It’s a tough course, but pretty fast.”