BUFFALO TWP — Nick Gentile and Kayla Zboran have varying degrees of experience, just not what you might think.

The Freeport cross country runners should be among the top finishers at Thursday's WPIAL Championships at Cooper's Lake.

Gentile, a senior, is out for cross country for the first time, but he was the WPIAL Class AA champion in the 800-meter run last spring.

Zboran, a freshman, has been running since she was 5 and has been a staple on the road running scene.

"Kayla's a lot more experienced than Nick, if you can believe that," said Freeport coach Bob Livrone.

Gentile also served as the Yellowjackets soccer goalie this season before moving to the field in the last few games and tallied three goals.

"He has a lot of natural ability," Livrone said. "He has been able to adapt to cross country. He's not as good at cross country as he is at track. He's still pretty darn good and he has a very good chance that he could medal and make it to states.

"About the top 30 overall usually go to states, so he could do both of those," Livrone added.

That's Gentile's goal.

"That's the expectation I have for myself," said Gentile. "I want to make it to states and, hopefully, I can be in the top five (at the WPIAL meet).

"I'm done with soccer, so I can concentrate on my running," he added.

Gentile took up cross country as a means to stay in shape and to prepare for college. Most middle distance and distance runners in track are expected to run cross country as well.

Gentile definitely has seen the difference in the fall.

"I don't care too much for hills and the longer distance," Gentile said. "I like track and running around a circle for two laps.

"It's been a fun time with the team and running in all the meets," he added.

Gentile ran his first 5K road race this summer, and, to his amazement, he did a pretty good job.

"I had pretty good success in track, but I was surprised how well I could do. I thought I was going to die along the way," he said.

The toughest part for Gentile in taking up a sport late in his scholastic career is the inexperience factor.

"It's tough to know when to accelerate, when to cruise," said Livrone. "It's a lot different than track, but Nick has done really well with his ability."

Zboran came up through the junior high program, so she's very familiar with what courses have to offer.

"She ran in junior high as an independent," said Livrone. "She's run the Butler Road Race all these years. We knew she was coming along.

"She was really little last year, but she's grown this year. That's helped her. Her legs are stronger, she's got a nice stride and has good speed at the end of the race.

"She's totally determined. She doesn't like to lose," Livrone added.

Zboran just likes to keep things basic on the course.

"A lot of my goals are getting better as a runner and getting better times," said Zboran.

Having run for so long, Zboran had no trepidation when it came time for her first varsity race.

"It was natural for me and running with the team," Zboran said. "It was easy going to my first meet."

And the same can be said during the race.

"My mom always said to run your own race. Don't let anyone determine where you'll be. They may be having a bad race," Zboran said.

Zboran has had some experience at Cooper's Lake, the site of Thursday's finals, having run it as a seventh- and eighth grader, as well as in an invitational earlier this year.

""I like the course, but it's loopy and I don't like loops," Zboran said. "It's definitely a good spectator course."

Still, Livrone is optimistic she'll do well in her first varsit WPIAL meet.

"Kayla has a very good shot at the top 20 and a legitimate shot at the top 10," Livrone said. "She ran at the Freedom Invitational last Wednesday and she was second and she wasn't even feeling well."